One of the Best Things I have Done

Look at that smiling face.  I'm taking credit for that smile.  It is one of the best things I have done.  A few years ago, my mom was fighting for her life in SICU at HSC.  When you are have a relative in ICU, you know that you struggle to find things to do.  Usually, only visitor at a time so you alternate and there are often many things that the medical team need to do that they would prefer to do without you watching.  So, you end up doing a lot of sitting and drinking coffee and feeling guilty that you are just sitting and drinking coffee. You feel like you want to do something.  So, it was a Saturday morning when the medical team needed some time with my mother for about two hours.  I just wasn't up to sitting doing nothing.  Then, I remembered that I was due to give blood.  It was my man's first time in Canadian Blood Services and I asked him to see if he could donate blood.  Someone had told him years ago that he was not eligible, but it wasn't based on anything real.  So, he tried and he was able to donate blood.  To be honest, I was a little sorry I suggested it.  As a first-time donor, they made a huge fuss over him.  I tried to be gracious, but I was a little miffed.  "Fifty-plus donor over here!", I thought to myself. 

So, since then, that has been our thing that we do together on a Saturday morning at 8 am.  I always wanted to do 100 donations.  I don't think that is going to happen but I still feel that I will get to 75 as I am very close.  There are a couple of things that have happened since his first donation.  The hemoglobin threshold has been raised.  It is harder for a woman to reach that threshold so I am deferred more often.  Also, everyone used to be able to donate every 56 days and now women are only eligible 84 days.  The reasons are in our medical best interest but it just makes it harder for us to participate together. 

This morning was our morning.  I was deferred so I had to do the walk of shame and wait for him.  I was a little bit frustrated.  And, then, I saw his smile.  He loves donating blood.  He loves that his gift is life.  He is proud of his 28 donations and secretly hopes he can overtake me.  But, that smile.  It was hard not to be moved by that smile and be proud of him.  And, you know what?  I did that.  I encouraged him to make that first donation.  So, actually, if I take my 74 donations and add it to his 28 donations, really, I am responsible for over 100 donations. 

So, looking at the world more positively, I was able to wait for him with a positive attitude.  Instead of grumbling to myself, I was able to look around and see a lot of good.  For example, most of the donors this morning were young adults.  That was amazing to see this selfless act by a generation which is often maligned for being selfish.  There was a middle aged lady donating for the first time and she was so proud that she face-timed her son and grandson.  It was hard not to feel moved.  There was also a father donating in front of his very cute four year old daughter.  Wonderful to watch and to know that she will grow up in a climate where giving is normal and that needles aren't scary. 

The dad and his daughter were sitting next to us when my man had finished his snack and we were leaving.  I spontaneously told my man that I loved him.  The daughter remarked to her dad, "Isn't it great that old people can still love each other."

Maybe she wasn't as cute as I thought.  But, I was still feeling positive and not going to allow anything ruin one of the best things I have done. 

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