Blood donors tough it out

Students giving the gift of life with the help of a needle

By Melanie C. Blanchard

blan0107@algonquincollege.com

Giving blood can be the experience of a lifetime, even if it doesn’t go as planned.

Faye Rowland and Jenni Beharry, both second year broadcasting students, were placed close to each other when they chose to give blood during the most recent Canadian Blood Services blood drive. They both had similar experiences, but walked away with different feelings.

Beharry had found out in her teens that she was a universal donor, or an “O” donor, and had made an effort to give as many times as possible. She believes tthis is the seventh or eighth time she‘s donated.

“I’m not only helping a certain blood type, I’m helping all,” she said.

After donating one full unit of blood, the nurses removed the needle from her arm and Beharry happily sat back and chatted with those around her. She even joked with Rowland as she started her own unit of blood.

As Beharry began to write her name on a piece of paper, her arm started to bleed, leaving a bright red pool on the floor. Nurses were quick to clean everything up and Beharry never lost her smile and laughed the incident off.

“Things like that are funny to me,” she said, explaining that things like that had happened before. The nurses on site are trained to act quickly and take care of the situation while making the patient as comfortable as possible.

For Rowland, though, things didn’t run as smoothly. Rowland smiled into the camera as one of her fellow broadcasting students filmed a segment about donating blood.

As time went on she began to look more uncomfortable. She didn’t complain but vigorously squeezed the stress ball given to her and became pale, sometimes stopping mid-sentence as if she was briefly distracted.

One nurse asked if she felt all right. “It feels like it’s pinching,” Rowland said. After adjusting the needle, the nurse kept a close eye on her.

Rowland said she wasn’t feeling well and wanted the donation to stop. One nurse yelled, “Out now!” and three nurses jumped into action. They made Rowland their first priority.

Beherry explained that things like people feeling faint and arms continuing to bleed sometimes happen but the nurses are so professional and can deal with the situations. Beharry advises future donors not to panic, these things are normal.

Sharon Rodgers, from the Canadian Blood services, explained that it is very important for students to donate and not be afraid of the experience. She said that going to the schools is so important because the young people who start here will “donate for life.”

Beharry said that it was definitely not her last time donating and she would at the next drive on Feb. 23 if possible.