Giving the Gift of Life

donating blood is something that we usually hear every now and then - but how many of us are really inclined to donate blood - making time to actually go and donate blood? well, luckily for me, loh kong is a frequent blood donor, so like many other things, i too was influenced, excited and wanted to be one. loh kong has been doing this since he was still single.

anyway, after 3 years in marriage, barulah i had the time and opportunity to go and donate blood. it was several weeks ago when we went to visit a friend's wife who just delivered their first baby. anyway, the place and time was right, after the quick visit we went to the blood centre at one of the buildings within PPUM. yes, "one of the building" - i bet you i would be lost if i were to find my own way there - the quirky designed buildings, the old long corridors and the inter-connected levels of different buildings, heh.. teramatlah confusing to me..!

anyway, excited and so looking forward to the session - i couldn't help feeling so happy because the opportunity finally arrived. loh kong had his blood donation small booklet ready, so he didn't have to register. it was my first time, so i had to register first. before filling any form, i was asked to read the do's and the don'ts list that was on a notice board nearby. i quickly went over the do's - check check check... then i moved on to the don'ts - check check check and then erkkkk... what?

there were 12 items in the list, and i didn't qualify for item no 12! (and NO, it's not because i weigh less than 45kg - how i wish!! =D). i tried to google the exact 12 items but couldn't find the list - there were many variations, based on country regulations, etc. but here's a good list, which provides an overview on the eligibility criteria, taken from https://sites.google.com/site/programdermadarahcar/

Penderma darah adalah istimewa. Ini adalah kerana tidak semua orang layak untuk menjadi seorang penderma darah. Terdapat beberapa kriteria yang melayakkan seseorang itu untuk menderma darah. Di antara kriteria yang ditetapkan adalah seperti berikut:

1. Sihat tubuh badan pada hari pendermaan.

2. Berumur di antara 18-60 tahun.

· Bagi yang berumur 17 tahun, perlu mendapatkan kebenaran bertulis daripada ibubapa atau penjaga

· Bagi yang berumur 61-65 tahun, perlu mendapatkan kelulusan bertulis daripada doktor mengenai tahap kesihatan badan.

3. Berat badan melebihi 45 kg.

4. Tidur melebihi 5 jam pada malam sebelum hari pendermaan.

5. Tiada masalah kesihatan.

6. Tidak mengambil sebarang ubat-ubatan

· Tidak mengambil antibiotik dalam tempoh 7 hari sebelum hari pendermaan

· Sila rujkuk pegawai perubatan bertugas untuk ubat-ubatan lain.

7. Telah mengambil makanan sebelum menderma darah (tidak berpuasa)

8. Tidak terlibat di dalam sebarang kegiatan berisiko tinggi seperti berikut:

· Hubungan jenis sesama jantina (homoseksual)

· Hubungan jenis dengan kedua-dua jantina (biseksual)

· Hubungan jenis dengan pekerja seks komersial / pelacur

· Bertukar-tukar pasangan hubungan jenis

· Mengambil dadah secara suntikan

· Menjadi pasangan hubungan jenis kepada mana-mana golongan di atas.

9. Pendermaan terakhir sekurang-kurangnya 3 bulan untuk penderma darah penuh (whole blood), dan 2 minggu untuk penderma aferesis.

10.Untuk penderma wanita:

· Tidak mengandung.

· Tidak datang haid.

· Tidak menyusukan anak.

11.Jangan menderma darah jika anda:

· Pernah tinggal di United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man atau Channel Island) atau Republik Ireland dari tahun 1980 hingga 1996 untuk tempoh 6 bulan atau lebih

· Pernah tinggal di benua Eropah dari tahun 1980 hingga sekarang untuk tempoh 6 bulan atau lebih.

i was in the UK from '85 to '88.

and so, as simple as that, i am not an eligible donor - and will never be!! how so unfair!! it turned out that during that period, a major outbreak on mad cow disease or BSE occurred in the uk and other parts of Europe. BSE is transmitted through either cannibalism or transmission of blood / organs. since BSE presence in blood / tissue can't be tested, this factor has been added by the fda as a blood donor restriction - eventually being a regulation worldwide. according to the medical practitioner who was there, this rule was introduced in this country in 2007 and resulted to a lost of a big handful of regular frequent donors. yes, no one will actually check whether you have / haven't been in UK during the 80's but confessing is a responsibility (at least to yourself) - at least you avoid possible consequences to others.

so there you have it - i am not an eligible blood donor. so the very least that i can do is: PROMOTE BLOOD DONATION! you don't have to set or arrange any appointments - just go to any hospital and they will set you up. it takes about 15 - 20 minutes only per session. instead of watching tv, dozing off or reading the paper while waiting for warded / hospitalized friends and families, go and donate blood. there are tangible benefits that comes with it - free parking, eligibility to be upgraded to higher ward classes, free food & drinks, etc.

but the best of it all - is the feeling of being able to give the gift of life, without doing much!

so girls, if you're reading this and donating blood has never crossed your mind, maybe it's time to start thinking about it. :D


**mcm pesanan komuniti pulak kan? =D