In A Generous Vein A Former Needle Hater Learns To Confront Her Anxiety And Becomes A Regular Doner Of Life-Giving Blood

I was exposed to the medical world at an early age. My mom is a nurse, so there were always plenty of hospital gadgets lying around our house. Like stethoscopes, blood-pressure cuffs and needles.

Mom was always bringing a fresh supply of them home. There were needles in drawers, needles in the refrigerator, and even needles in her purse. Reaching in there was dangerous. I learned to look before I grabbed anything.

But, despite my medical background and familiarity with needles, I still dreaded those awful trips to the doctor’s office for shots, and I made plenty of them.

I had an extra set of teeth in my mouth. Way too much enamel. So, out they came, one by one. It was a slow, painful process. I was a regular at the dentist’s office. I became used to the trips, but never to those shots in the mouth.

By the time I reached high school, I hated needles. I remember the first time the bloodmobile arrived on campus. A few brave students bared their arms to donate, but I hid in the cafeteria. My dad gave blood, so I knew it was a good thing to do, but I felt I had paid my dues with needles. I didn’t want to get involved.

In college, I began working at a Spokane television station. After I arrived, we produced some television spots telling people about the need for blood.

A few of my co-workers appeared in the ads. They had all given blood. I admired their courage and thought about donating, but I couldn’t seem to get past my fear of needles.

Plus, a new fear called AIDS had emerged. Rumor had it, you could get the deadly virus by donating blood. Worse yet, I knew donated blood was tested for AIDS. What if I already had the virus? Did I really want to know? Not knowing seemed like my best option.

But after a while, that decision began to bother me. I knew my blood could save somebody’s life, and I felt like I had chickened out by not donating - especially when I saw those ads with my co-workers.

I knew my chances of getting or having the AIDS virus were slim, and I knew if I could donate once, I would be over my fear of needles forever. So, I talked to my friends at the TV station and learned about being a blood donor. I learned that it doesn’t hurt and you can’t get AIDS. The more I learned, the more eager I became to get involved myself. And, by the time I was 28, I was ready to make my first donation.

I was nervous when I walked in the door of Spokane’s Inland Northwest Blood Center, but I knew I had made the right decision when I saw that recipient list: more than 500 churches, hospitals, charities and businesses - and they all wanted my blood. I knew I was doing something good.

I answered a few questions about my health and sexual history. Then, a nurse with a great sense of humor ran some tests to make sure I was healthy enough to give blood. She checked my weight, temperature, blood pressure and blood iron level.

After those tests, I was taken into the lab to make my donation. As the nurse prepared my arm for the needle, panic set in. I thought about the dentist and all of those shots. I remembered the pain. For a brief moment, I thought about leaving, but I didn’t. I was determined to deliver a pint of blood.

I turned away just before she stuck the needle in my arm. I felt a slight pinching sensation, but no pain. This was a very special needle. I was intoxicated with good feelings. I thought about my mother and co-workers. I thought about my father, and knew he would be proud of me.

Ten minutes later, my donation was complete. The entire process had taken less than an hour. Afterward, a volunteer served me cookies, juice - and a warm smile I had grown familiar with that afternoon. I walked out the door wearing a “Kiss Me I Donated Blood Today” sticker on my coat. I had never felt better about myself.

That was three years ago. Last month I made my fifth blood donation. It was a special, holiday gift. It wasn’t charged or wrapped or put under a tree. It was a gift of life.

And, when I think about the faceless stranger who received it, I smile, because I know it came straight from the heart.

Cynthia Prentiss is a viewer development producer for KHQ-TV.

MEMO: Getting started The Inland Northwest Blood Center has a special need for type “O” blood during the holidays. Community resources manager Susan Ogan offers these tips for people who are thinking about donating blood. Make sure you are feeling healthy and well when you come in to donate. Eat well and drink lots of fluids before and after donating. Relax and realize the gift you are giving is a gift of life. Blood center hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Or call the Inland Northwest Blood Center for a bloodmobile schedule at 624-0151 or (800) 423-0151.