DONATING BLOOD FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR

After 90 days, it was time to carry out my social responsibility i.e. donating blood. I decided to go to the Hospital Sultanah Aminah Blood Bank this time.

GOOD NEWS: Instead of giving the snacks pack which contained biscuits, peanuts, mineral water and boxed drinks, donors are now given frozen food [either fried rice or spaghetti], a bun and a boxed drinks. One can heat up the frozen food in the microwave in the dining area and enjoy your food right after the donation session is completed. One can also make his/her own hot drinks. However, the donor is also allowed to take the tree items home.

DONATING BLOOD FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR THE YEAR 2026

I decided to carry out the social responsibility of donating blood today. I had been receiving phone call and messages from the HSA Blood Bank during the fasting month to come and donate. However, I did not feel I was fit enough to do that when I was fasting.

This time, I went to a centre at Mid Valley Megamall as there was a Blood Donation Suite. It was my first time and surprisingly, there were many people when I arrived at about 2:30 p.m.

The place looked new and modern, if compared to the existing centre at the hospital.

Everything ended in no time and I was glad I went there today. I might come back to this same place in 3 months.

CARRYING OUT MY REGULAR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

I decided to go to SMK Dato' Jaafar to carry out my social responsibility as the annual blood donation drive was held today. I used to go to Hospital Sultanah Aminah to do that since I retired. but opted to get back to school.

To kill two birds with one stone, I got to see a few friends/ex-colleagues and ex-students.

Puan Jothy, the organizer

I will have to remember to donate again next year. It is more fun to do it in school as I had the chance to socialize and meet more people.

THE FIRST BLOOD DONATION SESSION FOR THE YEAR

There was a blood donation drive being held at AEON Permas Jaya. As it was already time for me to give away some of my blood, then I went there in the afternoon.

Everything was over in less than an hour.

Since the event was held in the mall, I was expecting better door gifts for donors. However, I was wrong. It was the usual food/drinks packet given if I go to the hospital.

I decided to reward myself with Teh Tarik and Butter & Kaya Toast at Old Town White Coffee Cafe in the mall. I needed instant food for energy to replace the blood lost. 😀

DONATING BLOOD AT THE HOSPITAL

31st JANUARY 2024 ~ I received a letter back in November 2023 from the Blood Donation Centre of Hospital Sultanah Aminah [HSA], informing me that they had sent my blood for random sampling and found that I belonged to Phenotype rare type group. Prior to that, I was asked to attend a counseling session at the hospital in January. That worried me a lot so I did some research on the Internet and asked two of my doctor friends what it was actually about.

When I went to the hospital for the supposedly counseling session, I was asked first to fill in blood donation form and the officer at the counter told me then only the doctor would explain about the condition I was having. 😉

It was not a counseling session after all but more of a consultation meeting. And I went to donate my blood after that.

I have O group blood but then could be the rare type. The doctor told me the hospital might contact me just in case they need me to donate some more for any emergency cases. I felt like I am a member of the X-Men already.

FOOTNOTE: if you donate blood during a campaign organized by NGO, you could get better goodie bags with more contents inside. 😀

DOING MY BIT FOR SOCIETY

The initial plan was to get fruits from the supermarket at Plaza Pelangi. Then I saw a Blood Donation Drive taking place at the open area of the mall and decided to contribute something to the society.

As I was about to get into my reclining seat, one of the nurses asked whether I am a teacher. So I asked her, how did she know? She told me that one of the nurses on duty is my ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti. I was fortunate enough as I suddenly had someone who had to become a photographer and this time, the whole thing could be documented.

Thanks Ms. Azlina Salam, from SPM batch 2003, for introducing yourself as my ex-student. It is always a pleasure to meet an ex-student after all these years. And thank you for helping me take photographs and she even recorded a video for me.

And there was a bagful of gifts for the donors this time, with all sorts of items inside - mostly food like biscuits, a bun, a cupcake, a mooncake, a bottle of mineral water, 100 Plus in a can and a Milo box drink. Then there were also face masks and a beauty facial mask, a small bottle of hand sanitizer and a red pen. Try to spot the odd one out. 😀

This was the first time I went home with a goodie bag filled with a lot of things inside. I guess if the organizers of Blood Donation Drive could offer something like this all the time, there would be more people coming to participate.