The 10-Gallon Club Baby!

I didn't realize when I posted back on March 24, see post - Tennessee Blood Donation, that my Tennessee donation was going to be a milestone -

My dad often encouraged me to donate when I was younger but I wasn't interested back then. However, when I got older and watched what my mother went through, needing blood so often to help with her medical issues, my attituded changed.

My intention was never to compete with my dad or try to surpass his incredible milestone, but perhaps I now have another milestone to shot for too...

In my dads lifetime, he donated blood to the American Red Cross 124 times for a whopping 15.5 gallons!

Tennessee Blood Donation

I completed my first Tennessee American Red Cross blood donation yesterday at the First Christian Church in Johnson City!

The Red Cross doesn't have much of a presence here, as they do back in Boston, so donation options are limited.  However, I was lucky enough to inquire early and was able to get a spot on yesterday's traveling drive -

Although, I arrive at 2:45PM for my 3:00PM Power Red appointment, I didn't get processed in and in the bed until 4:00PM -

The American Red Cross crews are all great, and yesterday's crew was no different, but they do struggle with getting folks signed in and often get backed up with long wait times.  I didn't mind waiting and appreciate what they do.

Blood Donors Are Plasma-tically Amazing!

Why yes I am!

Another Red Cross blood donation in the books -

The Power Red machine I was hooked up to - 

Good news too, they NO longer need to prick your finger to capture a small amount of blood to check your hemoglobin level to ensure you have enough iron to safely donate, nope!  They now have a senor that fits around your thumb, that connects to a battery operated machine and that reads your hemoglobin level.

Honestly, that was really the worst part of the donation process, that darn finger prick.

Automation is a good thing.

I Did It Again!

Working towards donation pin #10 and I've already booked my next eligible appointment for September!

My 2:00PM Power Red donation appointment went without a hitch -

Power Red donations allows you to safely donate two units of red cells during one appointment versus only one unit when donating as a whole blood donation.

So, they're getting twice the goodness of ME 😊

Honestly, the toughest part of donating blood, is trying to get all of the glue that gets left behind by the tape they use to hold the gauze and band-aid on post donation!

Ever take a price tag sticker off an item you've purchased, where the tag itself comes off but it leaves behind the sticky, glue residue?!  Well, it's just like that but on your skin...

#Blessed

Level 9, Welcome!

I received my American Red Cross 9-gallon pin today!

The discrepancy with the donor app has also been fixed.

It's official, I'm in the 9-gallon club, with (73) lifetime donations to date...and climbing.

My next donation appointment is May 29!

#Blessed

A Milestone!

I received the below American Red Cross email earlier this week congratulating me on my 73 lifetime donations, totaling 9-gallons!  Which is also equal to 36-quarts or 144-cups or 1,152 ounces!

Quite the accomplishment, if I can toot my own horn.

However, there's a bit of discrepancy here.  The American Red Cross Blood Donor app on my iPhone, is and has been showing me as being in the 6-gallon milestone and NOT the 9-gallon referenced in the email below, HMMM -

You can see in the screen shot below from the app, it clearly shows I've not yet made it to the "7 Gallon Donor" milestone.  Come to think of it, the app seems to have had me at this level for quite some time now, weird, otherwise all other information seems to be up to date -

I replied to the congratulations emails and explained all this and asked for their help in determining my actual milestone (the letter should be accurate) and how to fix the app.

Stay tuned...

#DonorForLife

Cookies Cookies Cookies Cookies

I made my first Power Red blood donation of 2025 this afternoon!

Despite the snow, freezing rain and dropping temperatures, I braved the elements and made my way over to the Franklin Elks for my 2:00PM appointment.

I've been donating at the Franklin Elks for years now and have come to know the regular phlebologists that work there.  One in particular, Morlinda, surprised me today with a bag of her fresh homemade chocolate cookies!  It's an ongoing joke of ours and to my surprise she knew I was donating today and made me cookies!

I wolfed 3 down while hooked up to the apheresis machine! MMM so good!

I've already booked my next donation appointment, May 29, at the same Franklin Elks.

I dropped a couple hint with Morlinda that I'm a BIG fan of snickerdoodle cookies, so fingers crossed...

Power Red Baby!

And another Red Cross Power Red donation completed this afternoon at the VFW here in Franklin!

2 more units of blood donated today, bringing my unit donation numbers to 70 & 71! 

The Franklin VFW had it's side yard adorned with American flags in remembrance of 9/11.  It was impressive and moving, and brought a tear to my eyes -

#Blessed

Roll Up Your Sleeves!

I completed another Power Red blood donation this afternoon!

Getting closer to the 7-gallon milestone!

Here is the Power Red apheresis machine -

Here I am squeezing my squishy football -

I've even already scheduled my next donation appointment, Thursday 9/12!

And Onto 2024!

My first 2024 donation has already been booked!

Blood Donation "Yeti" Again

I completed another Power Red blood donation this past Friday afternoon to close out 2023!

I'm able to donate again anytime after April 13 and have already scheduled a 4-25-24 appointment!

Received a "Yeti set donate" long-sleeve t-shirt as a thank you.

#Blessed

AND Another!

Another power red blood donation in the books!

Working towards my 7-gallon badge and getting close!

Power red donors need to wait 112 days before being eligible to donate again.  So while waiting, I've already scheduled my next donation appointment for early December.

I'm getting quite the collection of Red Cross donation t-shirts -

#Blessed

AND Another Power Red Complete!

Literally just returned home from another Power Red blood donation!

The Red Cross was giving out t-shirts to all the donors. SO, do as Snoopy say and "Be cool. Give blood."

Seems I've become a regular here at the Franklin Elks for these donations and often have the same folks from the Red Cross working, so nice to see familiar faces and joke and chat with them!  They're all good eggs!

#blessed

Happy To Donate

Looks like I donated blood six times in 2022!

I have my first donation of 2023 coming up next week!

Looking to match last years totals.

7-Gallon Club

Another Power Red donation in the books!

Found a donation site in Millis last Friday afternoon and booked myself an appointment.

According to the Red Cross Blood Donor app on my phone I'm up to 57 pints donated to date, which puts me in the 7-gallon club!

Thanksgiving Power Red Donation

Another Power Red blood donation in the books!

My next donation will put me in the 7-Gallon Donor club!

A huge THANK YOU to all the Red Cross works who have helped me in my blood donation journey!

Power Red Donation Baby

Another Power Red donation in the books!

Scored an American Red Cross cap too!

Getting closer and closer to obtaining the 7-gallon donation pin, just a couple pints to go.

It hurts more when they pull the tape off that's holding the tubing in place versus the needle, weird.

And We're Off...

I kicked of 2021 with a Power Red donation yesterday here at the Franklin Elks.  Another 2-pints in the books -

Power Red Donation Gone A Muck

I banged out another American Red Cross, Power Red blood donation on October 8!  Just down the street at the Franklin Elks, nice and close.

Unfortunately, this donate was stopped early, after collecting only one of the two pints typically collected when doing Power Reds.  Seems the plasma return back into my arm was leaking (outside vein), which by the way was very painful.  The decision was made to stop the draw in order to save the one pint of blood already collected.  Continuing would have put that in jeopardy.  Good news is I'm eligible to donate again in December versus February. Bad news is I was black and blue, more so then usual, in the area of the needle stick..