Memories of My Blood Donation Exercise

Bakampa Brian Baryaguma

bakampasenior@gmail.com; www.huntedthinker.blogspot.ug

On Tuesday, 21^st November, 2017, I donated 450 millilitres (almost half a litre) of my precious blood to all potential recipients, in this world. This was during a blood donation drive organized by Uganda Blood Transfusion Service (UBTS), at the City Square, Kampala.

 

A sign post of UBTS at the Uganda Blood Bank Headquarters.

The gate of UBTS offices, at Nakasero hill, Kampala.

I have never been in need of blood transfusion (in fact, I have never even been on water drip), but I consider it very important to donate blood to people in need of it. I do not have to be told that. To my mind, donation is a matter of common sense, and duty to other people, since blood is not manufactured anywhere. Donating blood is simply the right thing to do. It was not my first time to donate, but I had taken long without donating again. So, it was my first, in a long time.

 

I first donated blood on 14 June 2013.

My second time was on 20 January 2014.

Although I had donated before, I realized that donating blood is actually not an easy thing to do, because there is always a feeling of fear associated with the whole exercise. So, as I got closer to the venue, I was somewhat scared, as on previous occasions.

But, I was determined to donate. So, once again, I garnered courage and strength to sustain me. I said to myself, ‘Bakampa, you are a renowned warrior, a formidable combatant and street fighter, who has successfully fought against dictators, with all their repressive terror machines; you went through the pain of circumcision; you even conquered Satan by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! Now, how can mere needle pricks on the finger and arm vein, scare you to death, in a mockery of your brevity? No, no, no! Impossible!’ With this courage, that is only comparable to that of a night dancer, I stormed the blood donation venue, probably like nobody else before.

 

 I was very excited to take my seat, and start the process.

On the first table, I was counselled, generally, about the whole exercise, by a lady, who also took and recorded my particulars like name and age, place of residence, district of origin, and interestingly, my mother’s name (but not father’s), were taken and recorded. When I asked why only my mother’s name was necessary, I was told that while it is possible that my known father is actually not my real father, this is not so with my mother; that a person’s mother is definite. At this moment, I shuddered, recollecting numerous stories of women and their terrible lies!

On the second table, a gentleman measured my blood pressure, to ensure that I am fit enough to donate. If blood pressure is high or low, one cannot donate blood, because then it is not safe for transfusion to another person. I was also told that when it is high, the blood has to be reduced, by removing some of it from the body, though at a cost to the patient. My blood pressure was normal, and I was asked to continue to the next stage.

  An attendant records my blood pressure level, in a form.

 The attendant explaining to me the importance of measuring blood pressure before donation.

After confirming that my blood pressure is normal, I underwent testing to confirm that I had enough blood to donate. The same gentleman cleaned one of my fingertips with moist cotton wool, pricked it, squeezed it gently, drew out some blood using a transparent test-tube, and poured it in a chemical mixture, in which it sank like a heavy stone in water, and then sealed my fingertip with the cotton wool, to enable clotting. The sinking of blood indicated that I had excess (and probably idle) blood in my body, enough to donate some, to people in need of it.

 Blood being drawn from my finger.

 Sealing the needdle prick with cotton wool.

 Pressing the cotton wool on my finger to stop bleeding.

Then, finally came my turn to lie on the bed-like donation chair, from where blood would be drawn out of my body. This point was manned by a lady. I shivered a bit, seeing her prepare her gadgets, tying some of them on me to locate the vein and spot to pierce, ready to finally go for the red liquid, which is the life support of all mammals (sic). It felt like I was giving up my life.

 Making final preparations for donation.

 Making final preparations for donation.

 Making final preparations for donation.

Making final preparations for donation.

Then she inserted the syringe-like needle in the vein on my right arm, complete with its transparent bag, in which the blood is collected. Dear reader, the fear of the unknown can be quite threatening. I shed some tears out of fear (or so I believed), seeing my precious blood flow out of my body, into the syringe, and settle in the bag. I momentarily felt even my breath leaving me. My life was really over! So I thought.

My blood flowing into the collection bag.

But remember that I came with great will and determination to donate. So, I pumped blood and filled the approximately half litre bag in just about five minutes, as I engaged my attendant in a discussion as to why they were not striking like other doctors. She explained that they are part of emergency personnel, who continue working, to save most critical lives.

 I filled the bag in record time; faster than some people I found.

As I saw my blood flow out of my body, I felt happy and proud of myself because I knew that I was thereby saving a needy life somewhere.

 Donating blood brings incredible joy to the donor.

 The attendant preparing to remove the bag, now full of blood.

My vein was sealed after drawing blood.

After donating, I was given an identification number to use for purposes of finding out my blood test results from Nakasero Blood Bank, after two weeks, from the date of donation, for tests like my blood group and diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B, and others, which when detected in the blood sample, it is poured. It basically goes to waste, since it cannot be given to another person.

 Uganda Blood Transfusion Service (UBTS) headquarters, Nakasero, Kampala.

 UBTS headquarters, Nakasero, Kampala.

I was given soda to drink, and biscuits to eat. I was told that these help the body to immediately generate energy for the body to use, like in generating more blood to replace the one taken out.

I enjoyed the soda, and biscuits.

On Wednesday, 20^th December, 2017, in the morning, I went to Nakasero Blood Bank to get my results, as advised.

 A billboard inside UBTS premises, giving directions to different offices.

 I took the opportunity to pose for a photo.

 Feeling swaggerific, while enjoying my photo pose.

At the reception, there was a lady and gentleman. I introduced myself to them, and stated my purpose for coming i.e. getting my blood test results after donation. They welcomed me, and the lady directed me to a counselling room, where details of my results would be given to me. I went through a door labelled ‘Donor Room,’ before reaching the counselling room. The donor room is a mini-department of sorts. It hosts the counselling room, a store, and a separate actual donor room from where one can donate blood, once at the facility.

I have always wanted to be a hero (I think everyone does); on this door was a symbol of a heart stating that, 'OUR BLOOD DONORS ARE HEROES!' When I read it, I felt that I am finally a hero. There is a banner next to the door, stating ‘Pre-donation instructions,’ to generous donors, many of which, I must confess, I have never complied with.

The counselling room is quite comfortable, and relaxing, but is also intimidating because thoughts of possibly getting unpleasant results, for example HIV+ results, can be very discomforting and difficult to bear.

 The counseling room is profoundly ambivalent: it's relaxing, but also scaring.

I met there a beautiful lady called Annet Akiror, who attended to me. When I asked her job description, she said that she is three-in-one, professionally speaking: a phlebotomist, laboratory technician, and counsellor. This job description basically means that she gets blood from a donor, conducts tests on it, and then updates the donor in form of counselling. So, for instance, the lady who drew blood from me at City Square, on 21 November 2017, was a phlebotomist. Ms Akiror received me warmly, and spoke very nicely until the end, answering all my questions eloquently – and they are always many, especially if I am learning new things.

 

 Ms. Annet Akiror explaining to me my blood test results.

We sat in front of a computer that had my results. She asked me whether I expected good or bad news from the results. I said I hoped for the best. She logged into the computer, and displayed the page with my results, indicated as ‘DONOR DATA.’ She asked me to confirm that they are my results. I said they are mine. After perusing the computer’s records, Ms Akiror told me what I expected: that I tested nonreactive, and therefore negative, for all the diseases and health conditions checked, before clearing blood for transfusion to another person. I learnt that the word 'Eligible' means that the blood is safe to be given to people in need of it. I expected this because I am as chaste as the Pope. I trust myself. I don’t indulge in harmful sexual habits. She informed me that my blood was taken to Bombo Military Hospital, where it was used to save someone’s life. I was very happy to hear this.

 The computer had good news for me, having tested negative of all the diseases and health conditions checked, before clearing blood for transfusion to another person.

Then she asked me whether I know my blood group. ‘No, I don’t,’ I said. ‘Your blood group is AB+,’ she said. I studied about the science of blood groups in primary school, but that was long ago. I needed a reminder of what this meant. She explained that generally, there are four blood groups namely, A, B, AB, and O. That these are divided between positive (+), and negative (-). And that people with either positive or negative can only give or receive blood to, or from people within their bracket. There is no crossing over, unless one is a universal donor or receiver. I was reminded of universal receivers (those who get blood from all blood groups, within their bracket of either positive or negative), and universal donors (those who give blood to every blood group, within their bracket of either positive or negative). AB+ and AB- are universal receivers, within their respective categories, while O+ and O- are universal donors, within their respective categories. But the ABs are unilateral donors i.e. they only give blood to fellow ABs, while the Os are unilateral receivers i.e. they only get blood from within their respective category; they don’t receive from other blood groups. Since I am blood group AB+, this means that if I ever need blood, the doctors will just pick whichever blood is available nearby, without first having to confirm that the sample is compatible with my blood type, as long as it is labelled +.

Interestingly, God is so amazing that He balanced the equation by creating few ABs and very many Os; such that there are few receivers, but many givers. So, since there are very many Os, who only receive blood from themselves, they can easily satisfy their blood needs, and since there are very few ABs, who receive blood from everyone else, they can easily rely on steady blood supply of other groups to meet their needs. There was an extremely important moral lesson here: that the world needs more donors (givers) than receivers (takers). That is why Jesus Christ said that the hand that gives is better than the hand that receives. He was encouraging more people to become givers.

 

 The information about blood groups was very mesmerizing and captivating. It shows on my facial expression. The Darwinists are definitely wrong in thinking and teaching that the world resuted from accident. Everything in the universe is so neatly and purposely organized that it is abundantly clear that it was the deliberate creation of God. Clearly, there is nothing accidental.

Later on, while chatting with another friend of mine, a medical practitioner, I learnt more good (and really funny) news for us people with blood group AB+: that scientists have discovered that people of this blood group, AB+, belong to the lineage of monkeys! Hahaha…. The good news in this is that, assuming that all the people in the world refused to donate blood to us, monkeys would be found anywhere, blood got from them, and transfused in our bodies. Isn’t that nice? It is, for sure. Actually, now I have decided that since monkeys are my blood relatives, I should treasure and guard them jealously. I am very protective of them. I have therefore, declared war on all those who harass and kill them, especially the poachers. I shall not sit idle while my own are butchered by mean, cruel and heartless people! Please, stand duly warned!

 

 After explaining to me the science behind blood groups, Ms. Akiror, filled for me a Blood Donation card, since I couldn't recall where my previous cards were kept. Now I intend to carry my card with me always.

Dear reader, donating blood is quick, painless, and the right thing to do. I encourage you to donate. Just go to any blood bank offices near you, and donate. You don’t have to wait for roadside blood donation campaign drives, in towns. The Blood Bank personnel are very professional and hospitable, with good client care values and practices. They will not disappoint you. This time round, I shall also donate more regularly. Men donate again after three months, and women four, from the date of the previous donation. So, my next due date for donation will be on 21 February 2018.

 

UBTS even sent me a merry Christmas, and Happy New Year's message.

Immediately after donating blood, I took to encouraging my friends on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter, to donate blood. Below, are screenshots of hillarious comments from members of some WhatsApp groups I belong to.

 After someone joked that I was only looking for soda and biscuits, due to hard times, another person proposed that UBTS starts giving beers and roasted meat, after donation, instead of sodas and biscuits.

 

 Joan doesn't like being asked her age, before donating. That freaks her out.

 Someone was concerned that blood donors have to buy blood, when they are in need of it. That's not nice, if true. I can’t imagine buying blood, after donating mine free of charge, many times.