JOY OF DONATING

Humans can help each other in a way other animals can’t, that’s what makes us human.Yet, humans are most ungrateful and unsatisfied creatures. Humans are by nature greedy. It’s this greed that harms us the most.  Have you ever wondered why are we not satisfied with what we have? Lean ones are unhappy, fat ones are unhappy, pretty ones are unhappy, handsome ones are also unhappy. That makes it a lot many unhappy individuals. They are unhappy mainly because they compare themselves with others. The moment they stop comparing, will be their happiest moment. 

          That’s not it, even if you stop comparing, people around you will not stop. Hey, look at that fatty over there! How does he even walk with such huge body or OMG! Look at that fellow! He will definitely be blown away with wind. I belong to the latter category. Have you ever experienced any such comments?  I’ve got many such comments. To tackle such situation you need to be mature. If your able to make fun of yourself and laugh over it, that’s maturity. Once my friend said “OMG! Look at your arms it’s much thinner than mine”. I wanted to give her befitting reply. I wanted to say I’m not lean, I look alright, it’s just that you’re ‘fat’ you fat ass. However, I restrained myself from being rude. I better be careful with words, especially when I’m dealing with girls. They are more sensitive and delicate. In addition, that’s not how a gentleman behaves. Now the real question popped up. Is being lean is same as being unhealthy?

Once I came across a quote in newspaper.

 “Ask not what your country can do for you, instead ask what you can do for your country “

-         John F Kennedy

I asked myself have I ever done anything worth mentioning.? This question kept haunting me for a long time. I then decided, I’ll donate worlds costliest liquid for my countrymen. That is the least I could do for my country. Have you ever donated blood? Donating blood is among one of the noblest things. Your blood has potential to save many lives. Who knows whose life it can save?  It may save a kids life who is yet to see the world or a mother’s life who is giving birth to a child or a soldiers life who is shedding blood fighting for country. It could be any one. I’ve volunteered for many blood donation camps, which made me aware of benefits of donating blood. I always wanted to donate blood. However, I could never do so as I was underweight. First time in life I felt, being lean is blessing in disguise. Even that couldn’t stop me from trying again.

          I decided to visit blood donation camp again. First, they tested my weight. This time it was above prescribed limit. My heart was leaping with joy. If you desire to do something form heart than the entire universe conspires to get you close to it. The story started from here. At first, a doctor spoke to me. He asked me a couple of questions. If I had donated blood before? Were you infected from any disease recently? and stuff like that. Next step was to give my blood sample.  After which doctor checked my BP (Blood pressure) which was normal. Doctor now gave me green signal to donate my red blood. I was happy on one side and nervous on the other. I was nervous partly because it was my 1^st time and partly because I imagined a needle inside my arms. I saw the needle it was bigger than needle I had imagined. I felt, needle would suck my entire 5 liters of blood in no time. It made me even more nervous. Within a blink of an eye needle was inside me. I could feel my heart beating louder and faster. I couldn’t decide it was louder because of nervousness or difficulty in pumping blood. The operator noticed me nervous. Therefore, he smiled at me and started conversation.

 He provided me with smiley ball to hold and press, that eased my pressure. I requested him to take a picture from my phone. Donating process was over soon. I was simply nervous. I experienced more pain in removing first aid plaster rolled around my finger than in entire process of donating blood.

  I was feeling a little dizzy though. They provided me with juice and biscuit. While I was laying down sipping on fruit juice, deep inside was feeling proud. My mind started being filmy now, I remembered the slogan of Subash Chandra Bose “ Tum Mujhe Khoon Do main Tumhe Azadi Dunga”(Give me blood, I'll give you freedom). I also had an answer for a question that was haunting me from long time. What can you do for my country ? Only one answer echoed in mind, “I bleed for Country”.

         

          I hope many after reading this article your motivated to donate blood.  If you're still in two minds about whether you should donate blood, consider that doing so not only helps others, you are doing something for your health too!

Here are some more benefits of blood donation :

1.     Free Health Check-Up ; Before every blood donation process, a series of health check-ups are performed on the donor totally free of cost. It help diagnose some of the indolent diseases at the early stage before they get flared up and present with multiple medical problems. Further, after the blood is donated, the blood and blood products that are derived from them are screened for certain infections. You can choose to be informed if they find any abnormality in those screening tests.  They checked my BP and Hemoglobin level before donation and a week after donation I got a mail. In mail, details of blood group, hemoglobin level, results of HIV and Malaria test were specified. All that for free without paying a single paisa.

2.     Burn calories; One time blood donation helps you shed 650 Kcal. Obesity is mother of all disease. If you’re fat and willing to donate blood, here is a way for you. Regular blood donation will help you reduce weight. By regular, I don’t mean every week. By regular, I mean with a time gap of 3 to 6 months. Don’t worry, even if you lean, just go ahead and donate it, you blood volume it be recovered in less than 48 hours.

3.     Free Goodies and promise: Blood donation is noble cause of humanity. Yet, many won’t donate unless they see immediate visible benefit for themselves. You’ve excess of blood with you, you’re taking it out and storing it in fridge for your own future use. You can take it out whenever you need it and you can even give it those you love. Isn’t it a wonderful life saving deal! I’m not kidding, it true. Its damn true. Since most of the blood bank provide ID number along with a promise to supply you blood when needed. That’s not it. You may also get souvenir and certificate.

4.     Proper maintenance of heart and liver and reducing cancer and heart disease; Blood donation is helpful in decreasing the problems of the heart and the liver that are caused by the increased iron repository in the body. The consumption of the diet that is rich in iron will increase the level of the iron. The body will absorb only a little proportion of iron and the excess will get stored in the heart, pancreas and liver. It will increase the chance to be affected by the cirrhosis, failure of the liver, pancreatic diseases, heart attacks and irregular heart rhythms. Therefore the blood donation will assist in keeping the levels of the iron and thus the diseases will be not given any chance to affect the body. The people who indulge in the altruistic works will definitely get to live longer than the others. This is also especially true in the case of the blood donation.

5.     Chance to Save human lives: The most obvious health benefit of donating blood is the wonderful feeling derived from giving something vital to someone who needs it. Blood components are separated into Whole blood, white blood cells, red blood cells, plasma and platelets. Many blood bank separate blood components so every time you give blood you’re not saving one life but many lives.

Coming back to my friend, co-incidentally she also had donated blood during same time elsewhere. Someone had accused me of being weak somedays ago, it was my time to reflect I wasn’t weak. I asked her to share details of her blood reports. When she shared details of report, I suggested, her hemoglobin levels are low, just little more than standard limit. I educated her on how to increases hemoglobin levels by eating more of green veggies and avoiding fast food that has transfat. I had now proved being lean is not same as being unhealthy. That too in Gentlemen’s way!

A spider bite might not transform you into Spiderman, but a small needle prick and a little of your time sure can transform you into Hero. Today is my birthday, I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate my birthday then spreading awareness to hundreds of people and thereby benefiting thousands of them.