PAGE 8 .

 

THE OTHER PRESS

NOVEMBER 2ND 198

 

Fearless student gives Blood —

“Blood Donor Clinic-Lower
Cafeteria’ the sign said. I
had a flashback to grade 10

 

by Val Swinton

 

 

when we had to get immun-
ization shots in school.
When my name was called,
my friend said that my face
turned white, but I managed
to get through it alright.
The thought of getting
another needle stuck in my
arm, and..to.make matters
worse, leaving it in there for
2-3 minutes, made my stom-
ach queasy. But on the
hand, it WAS for a good
cause and nobody was mak-
ing me do it. So, since I had

_ a long break ahead of me, I
sat down (even the thought
of contemplating giving
blood was making my knees
shake) ate my lunch and
_seriously weighed both
sides.

After about 10 ninutes I
came to the stupid conlusion
that having a complete stra-
nger jab a needle into my
arm would make me feel
good! So, off I went, trip-
ing gaily along and hum-
ming a happy song, all
excited about giving blood
for the first time and feeling
like a Good Samaritan.

Man, I tell you, I should
have stayed in bed that
morning!

Downstairs, a nurse gave
me a glass of orange juice to
‘“‘get your blood sugar level
up. (Why this was important
I don’t have the foggiest
idea). Next, another nurse
took my name, number, etc.
for registration purposes (a
fellow student said they did

this so they could hunt you
down next time they needed
blood. Once you are on their
list, you are on it for life!)
After that I had a list of
questions to read concerning

 

my health. I never knew
they were so picky. Any-
way, I passed, and I contin-
ued on down to the last
nurse.

By this time, my good
feeling was beginning to
disappear. I had witnessed
several people getting their
fingers pricked with what
looked like a razor blade,
and now it was my turn.
The nurse grabbed my
hand, I shut my eyes and

she jammed it in! She also
pricked my self-confidence,
which immediately deflated
like a balloon. I wondered
how in the world I could
have thought that I could go
through with this!

Then I had to wait. It
suddenly got very hot down
there and peoples voices
seemed far away, like I was
in my own little world. I
started getting dizzy. Then
one of the nurses said |

could go in now, but I said
that I didn’t think so. So I lay
down on a cot they had there

‘and they put cold washcloths

on my forehead and neck.
Those washcloths really did
the trick and when I felt
better they gave me some
more juice and two cookies.
Since I was a little woozy
and a little frightened by the
experience, I wasn’t verv

embarrassed. The nurses
helped also by being espe-

cially friendly and support-
ive.

Even though I failed at
donating blood, I look at it
like this. Not everyone has
the guts to try it and it WAS
a learning experience. (I
learned I have a needle-
phobia!) So the next time I
have to get a shot at the
doctors, it will take four
nurses to hold me down
while another one knocks me
unconscious!

 
 
  
     
  
   

Bread

The Lounge Corner

“Join us in the Lounge
for First Run Movies”

Nov. 2-Star Wars
Nov.9-Porky’s
Nov. 16-Kramer vs Kramer
Nov. 23-Ordinary People
Nov. 30-La Cage aux Folles

Show Time is 3:00 pm

Y% |b. of fresh pasta witha
choice of our famous sauces

SanFrancisco Sourdough

Crisp green salad with
homemade dressin?s
Dine in an atmoshere loaded

 
     
   
  
 

   
      

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1% lb. Hamburgerwith

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