I made it!

I made it through my appointment today! Even with my giant fear of needles and the wonderful flips my stomach does when I see my own blood, I made it through my first donation. I was supposed to go in to donate platelets but it turns out my veins are not up to that challenge. I stayed and donated whole blood- without throwing up. Apparently since I cried in the interview/pre-screening thing, they brought the head lady in to stick me. Yep, I was the "special one" of the day. I made it through with only crying one more time but that was after the needle was already in- kind of like the small melt down once my belly button was pierced, okay during the process but not so okay after. The lady was great and stayed with me the whole time I was in the chair. She answered all of my questions about the tubes, bags, strange beeping on the machine, and anything else I could ask to not think about the enormous needle sucking my blood from my vein. She told me they brought her in to make sure I had a good first experience so I would be willing to come back. She did her job well and I am hoping to return for future visits, maybe even join the multi-gallon club!