Gonna go donate some blood. how about you?

[redhen]

Quote:
Don't you hate that! I'm in the same category because I spent 2 semesters studying abroad. You'd think that we would have either been diagnosed with the disease already (if we, in fact, had it) or that they would have come up with a way to test the blood for it. I haven't been in Europe for 17 years, but I still can't donate. What I have always wondered is this: are Europeans allowed to donate blood in their own countries, where the Mad Cow Disease originated? Surely people there must have surgery and transfusions like the rest of the world, so why can Europeans donate blood but Americans who lived in Europe for a brief time are forever banned?

I never even knew that you could carry the mad cow disease for so long..
wow..scary stuff!
And they cant test the blood for it?? jeez...

 

[CoopCrazy]

Quote:
I take it you have had similar experiences to me with the local Red Cross.
I used to donate, but not any more.

The only reason i dont care for the way they handle it is that 1 my grandfather was diagnosed with luekemia about 10 years ago and the family was asked to be tested for bone marrow and platlets, well because of my sexuality they wouldnt allow me to give for him. My grandfather died less then two weeks (seeing as noone in the family that was tested was compatible) now im not saying he would have lived had i been allowed to be tested , but its the what ifs that bother me... 2. Being placed in a database and put on a RED list just feels like another form of discrimination.... There is nothing I can do to change it and now as I am already on "THE LIST" I will never know the joy of giving to help save others (that is until I die as I am a organ donor)

 

[Amyable]

Quote:
I wasn't really gonna, just to be clear.

gotcha

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

seems weird that they'd let you donate whole organs, but not blood! I understand them making clear (even if discriminatory) lines, for their safety and cost effectiveness, but for your own family? Thats insane!

 

[PurpleChicken]

chickensducks&agoose :

seems weird that they'd let you donate whole organs, but not blood! I understand them making clear (even if discriminatory) lines, for their safety and cost effectiveness, but for your own family? Thats insane!

They must check those too in some way. That's why I carry my Red Cross card in my wallet behind my license which in CT has the organ donor sign on it. They can use my RC card to look up my Red Cross records quick enough to get my organs approved and transported to someone who needs them.​

 

[WriterofWords]

I donated blood for the first time on my 18th birthday and I've donated every time I could since then. I've lost track of all the gallon pins I have. Steven donated blood on his 17th birthday, it's a family tradition.

PS: I'm also on the marrow registry and I'm a total organ donor.