Yesterday I went to donate blood at the
Blood and Tissue Center of Austin. It was to be the day I had donated a total of a gallon and get my nifty little coffee cup to prove it; except my blood didn't want to co-operate. I usually have no problems and am able to get out of there pretty quickly. I'm not sure if it was just too cold or if I was a little dehydrated or what, but about 3/4 of the way through my blood decided to clot up. And if it hasn't happened to you, let me tell you it hurts. At first I just felt pressure building up and the blood flow going through the tubes slowed down, so the technician (nurse?, medical student?) tried moving the needle around. Poking around in there with a sharp object didn't make it any more pleasurable. And the pressure just kept building. After a few minutes of poking I said that's enough, she pulled out the needle and there was a clot that looked about an inch long attached to the end of it like a piece of string. I didn't want to keep the cup since I didn't feel I had completely earned it, but she said since I got most of the way done and had to endure some pain that I deserved it.