While planning to donate blood recently, I was pleased to see that Bloodworks Northwest makes donor records easily available on their website. I’ve always enjoyed giving blood, partly out of altruism and partly out of fascination, I think. My parents were regular donors when I was a kid and I ate many cookies in the canteen while waiting for them, creating a positive association for me as an aspiring donor. Aside from the periods of post-Grand Adventure travel restrictions and pregnancy and it’s aftermath, I’ve been a regular donor since late high school. Lately it is the only type of community service I have managed to fit in to my life.
It was quite satisfying to see my Seattle donation count (23) though I had to estimate how many times I donated in Montreal, Pittsburgh and Boston. Henceforth, I am crediting myself with 19 non-Seattle donations, which brings me to 42 pints, or 5 gallons and 1 quart. Isn’t standard a quaint system? Here’s a 5 gallon bucket for a visual.
* about 6 donations were apheresis platelet donations, but I’m glossing over that
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