Tuesday, April 9, 2013

4/9/13 Pink again

Dear friends and family,

Gabrielle here.  Just a quick note to tell you that my pale, out of breath walking up two flights of stairs self has been replaced by a pink cheeked energizer bunny after getting two units of A negative blood yesterday.  It was an ordeal to get them.  We arrived at 8:30 AM and left at 2:20 PM--almost six hours!!  There are many delays and protocols where various people have to document that you are getting the right kind of blood and that you are who you say you are so that they don't accidentally kill you by giving you the wrong blood.  They even have to sign off that the product they are putting into you "looks like blood."  It was fun watching an oncological surgeon with probably 25 years of schooling say to the nurse "It's red and it looks like good blood to me."  Profound!


They also have to drip the blood into you very slowly to be sure your body doesn't reject it and that you don't get weird symptoms like rash, low back pain, etc.  While we sat there all that time we did our usual--Scrabble, reading, and a movie.  We watched a delightful French subtitled movie called Romantics Anonymous about two exceedingly shy people who fall in love while working together in a little French chocolate-making shop.  It was very funny and sweet, and of course, made us crave chocolate.  We had brought chicken sandwiches and apple slices with us but NO chocolate.  What were we thinking?!


Long story short, once we got home, we put on our walking shoes and enjoyed a one hour and ten minute walk in the Richmond Beach/Innis Arden neighborhoods, half of which was uphill.  What a difference a little blood makes!  If you have a lot of good blood in you--think about going to donate some so someone like me can be blessed!  :-)


Love,

Gabrielle

2 comments:

  1. I'm glad you're feeling stronger.... and pinker. :) - Christine

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  2. I would love to be able to give blood for you as I am A- too but medications that I am taking prevent me from giving blood for anyone. I am glad to hear that the blood you did receive is agreeing with you. - N may or may not be his or her initial

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