I used to like giving blood. I started as soon as I thought I was allowed to and gave blood at least twice a year fotr many, many years - I found out later I was actually a year or so too young when I started, but by the time I found this out I was 'legal' so it didn't matter any more - they'd misread / not properly read my year of birth on the form. People were a bit more casual about the whole donating process back in those pre-AIDs days.
Not long after my middle son was born he needed a couple of blood transfusions. He and I were/are an exact blood match and they allowed me to give the blood that was transfused to him (both times). That's a pretty special feeling!!
I 'paused' on the donating while having my children, and then around the time I would have started up again I got Ross River fever, and then during recovery - while my immune system was a bit vulnerable - I got a 'mild' Legionnaires. I wasn't allowed to give blood for a few years after that, and then a bit later I had an accident, lost a bit of blood, then ended up with low iron for a little while etc etc ... it was just one thing after another for a few years!!
Then I moved to an area where the place to donate wasn't very convenient to either my home or work, and by then I was out of the habit. So I haven't given blood now for years.
No matter what else happens that day you know you did something worth while.
I do remember that feeling
I'd probably be fine to do it now - I might have look to look into just how inconvenient and awkward it would be to get to the place from work.
