Double Reds

I have been a fairly regular blood donor for quite a few years now. A new offering from our local Red Cross folks is a way to give twice the amount of red blood cells. You have to qualify by being big enough, so I fudged a quarter inch and said I was 5'5" instead of 5' 4 3/4". The weight wasn't an issue. I'm no feather weight, that's for sure!

One needle, lots of tubing, a fancy machine. First whole blood comes out, then into a centifuge. Red cells are collected in two bags, being weighed as they fill. The plasma that is separated from red cells goes from the centifuge into a third bag, joining some saline and some nice nutrients and or minerals. The object is to pump my enhanced plasma back into my arm after the red cells are all collected and separated from the plasma.

The lady said it's quite smooth and kind of cooling.

However, my vein didn't cooperate. The plasma just would NOT go back In! Thus the bruises. And now I'm truly a pint low. Oh well. I hated to just leave my plasma behind. I wanted it! That was supposed to be one of the donor benefits, to not feel so drained after since they replace some of your fluids and all. Well, I don't usually feel any ill effects anyway after a normal donation. Cookies and juice do wonders to make me feel fat and happy. ;-)

I took this picture the day after, so it is a bit faded. Pretty, huh? I must have nice, effective vein valves. Blood just goes one way.  Out.