So on a scale of 1-10, how upset am I right now? About ten. I'm disappointed. I mean, not angry at anyone except those that decide who gets to donate blood and who not. The process? So much more difficult than you expect. First, come in, sign in, get a sticker, nice, it was green. Look at a list of things you need in order to pass the first test.
So I see, the usual, don't have HIV, don't have cancer, don't this don't that. Don't travel to the tropics in the last 12 months. So I ask "What do you consider the tropics?" Well, Hong Kong and the Philippines count... So, I say, what if I live there? Is that the same then? So I was asked did you only go to Manila, in and out without travelling? "Yes, sure." I answer. So, after some more questions about Hong Kong and China they say "We need to get the information on this." So I wait some more. They come back with three papers. I need to live in the States for more than three years after living in a country that may have malaria. Ok, just to get it out there: Hong Kong and malaria? Yeah, right, also, I'm pretty sure the US has some places with sicknesses so much worse. Ok, I know that's an immature thing to say, they have to be sure. But really? Ok, never mind. So I say, well, I lived in Spain for two years. "Still not three years". But I lived in Switzerland for two years before that. "Oh, ok well that then might work. So they say I pass and get to wait in line.
For an hour.
So finally I make it to the interview. Or the list of questions. But it stops when I give the doctor my ID. "You're Swiss?" I nod. "Have you lived in Switzerland?" Yes, 2 years. "Was that at the beginning of your life?" No, starting four years ago. "How long have you lived in the States for?" A month. "Where did you live otherwise?" In Spain the last two years. There was a pause. Then she walked out. I waited again. The manager came again. "She lived in Europe." I nod again. "More than five years?" Well, technically no. "With holidays?" Well if you count holidays, then yes... But that's not living there. But apparently it counts as living there. So what now? I can't donate. Indefinitely. As in, I can never donate blood in the States. Boy, was I disappointed.
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If they are too good for your blood, f** them.
ReplyDeleteI was not allowed to donate in HK because I lived in Europe during Chernobyl! So what, I just keep it all to myself!
haha omg. chernobyl! haha. they go back a while, huh
ReplyDeleteYap, and they are very unfriendly when you insist... because a German woman needed the blood and mine is very rare here I thought I help her... but no way, they did not even let me pass the reception area.
ReplyDeleteWait...you can't donate blood because you lived in Europe?! I don't get it...explain it to me like I'm 5.
ReplyDeleteHow frustrating that they made you wait in line for nothing!
Because I was living in London during the Chernobyl disaster and the radioactive cloud moved that way I am not allowed to donate blood.
ReplyDeleteTja, strange but true.