Blood Donation at Klang Parade

I knew this donation drive from my mom. Yeah, these days she "wets" more than me and know more happenings than anyone else after she joined few communities that are active around my housing area.

She told me she would be helping in the donation drive. I was very curious who the hell in the world would risk themselves allowing aunties like my mom to poke a hole and drain the blood out from their body? Yeah, they might be very experienced in kitchen, but blood donors are not chicken nor pork man! And are they legally allowed to do so? At the same time, I recalled that it's been long that I had not purged my old blood from my body, I've been missing few drives like this due to health issues. So I decided to cure my curiosity by a visit to the place, top floor at Klang Parade.

Oh! I was relieved upon reaching the venue...

It's a joint event of Tzu Chi Foundation with National Blood Bank. Nurses from the blood bank were the one who ran the show, not those aunties from TCF. Phew~ I did not want to bail my mom out from the lock up center after she poked a donor like chopping a chicken in the kitchen.

Look at this...

If you could see the details, you should understand my worries. A typical aunty's work. They reused the poster from last event on Monday 1 Sep 2008 and did not even update the date, time and venue for this event!

After clearing the doubts that NBB not TCF was the one to run the donation drive, I felt safe to donate. So I proceeded to the registration counter...

Filled up the form and some high level verification whether I was fit to donate. Then moved on to the next counter for blood testing...

At this table, you would know your blood type if you were the first timer. Also, if your blood is healthy i.e. has enough mineral to donate.

Once done, moved on to the final table for interview and brief explanation on who can and can't donate by the doctor or medical officer (MO)...

You would also "collect" your blood bags here.

I was lying down on the lazy chair comfortably waiting the nurse to come and poke me. Opposite me was the blood collection center. See the blue storage boxes on the right, my blood would be stored in the box later on...

[Censored]

I wanted to show my blood bag full with 450ml of my hard-produced reddish blood. But... somebody may faint on the floor after seeing the photo. So it was censored. Hehehe...

After donated, it's the time to enjoy. You have free milo, cookies and cakes to recharge your glucose level so that you don't feel giddy after donation...

Err... You don't typically get such nice cookies from NBB or other hospitals, these cookies were sponsored by aunties in TCF since this was a joint event by them with NBB. But let me ask a question, don't you think the cookies look familiar like CNY cookies? :P Anyway, there's extra bonus from TCF...

A TV playing cartoon for the kids while waiting the parents who participate in donation.

Let's see my donor book...

Not many. Total of 12 times donation since 12 years ago. No donation on 1999 as it was a tough year for me (and my family) as I had no time for other things except my dad. This was the year he lied on the bed.

No donation on 2003 and 2004 too as I was always the drunken master who slept less than 5 hours a day. That disqualified me for donation. Then on 2007, it was a bad year for me as I was in and out hospital like taking vacation in hotel.

What a memory replay~

May be I shall set a target for 2009, to stay healthier and be fit for blood donation whenever I meet one.

Oh, I searched for my organ donor card but couldn't find it! Another thing that I shall follow up in coming time.