Why Ukrainians become blood donors: 5 stories of people who share their blood with others
If you have ever caught yourself thinking that you would like to become a donor for someone - this is definitely a sign. We have collected 5 stories from people whose actions can inspire you to finally do it. Spoiler - it does not hurt and is even addictive! And remember to help others and save lives for everyone.
Ivan, 32 years old, Kyiv .
He works in the Kyiv Patrol Police Department and is interested in fishing.
I first donated blood after the birth of my child in 2011. My wife was injected with rhesus antiglobulin in the maternity hospital, but needed blood from several donors, including me. Shortly after the birth of my son, my wife and I saw a social video about donation on TV. Probably, it was like a push for us, and we decided to try ourselves as donors. My wife and I are currently active donors to Okhmatdyt, and I personally have 34 platelets on my account. In addition, I try to promote donations on social networks, among my friends and colleagues. For those who are just planning to become a donor, I advise you not to be afraid of this procedure. First, you will always know about the state of your health, because when donating blood and its components do detailed tests. Secondly, it is not scary and safe, because all blood collection systems are disposable. For the first time, I was a little worried because I didn’t know what the procedure was and how I would tolerate it, so I can understand the worries of others. But I think that donation is very important, because it is difficult to find suitable donors. But often they are just catastrophically lacking, and then the time of human life is not days, but hours!
Iryna, 24, Kyiv
Translator of fiction .
I have been a regular donor since I was 18, but had breaks due to some temporary contraindications. I have been dreaming of donating since I was 15, I really wanted to save someone’s life and help, because several times my friends and acquaintances also needed blood, and they were helped by donors. So as soon as I turned 18, I immediately became a donor for the first time.
For the first time, I was scared because I was very afraid of injections and pain. It’s all from childhood, when to donate blood from a finger was nervous, painful and unpleasant. I was worried as I filled out the questionnaire, as I talked to the doctor, but the procedure was not at all painful, and with every drop of blood I shared, I felt more and more comforted that it could save someone’s life.
For those who want to try themselves as a donor, I highly recommend doing so, if there are no absolute contraindications. It’s addictive!
Sometimes my friends call me a "donor addict" because I keep a close eye on when I can donate blood again.
I think that donating is useful because you will know your blood type, hemoglobin level, and some health tips. In addition, it is a chance to make this world a little better.
Alexander, 36 years old, Kyiv
Works in the police, is fond of spearfishing.
I have a donor’s certificate, I have been donating blood since 2008. Once a colleague at work said that her mother urgently needed blood, and everyone from our department went to donate blood. The first colleague was not allowed because he was a foreigner, three others were refused because they had Botkin, someone had low hemoglobin. As a result, there were three people left with me, and we passed more than the norm. This was my first donation experience. After that, we decided to get some food - we were given food stamps (then still given). And at the table they started talking about donation and that even if there is a person who wants to donate blood, it is not a fact that she can be a donor.
Then I realized that donors are people that others really need. After that, I began to donate blood constantly, mainly in the children’s hospital OKHMATDIT.
If you feel good, have the opportunity to donate blood, then do it, because you save lives!
Eugene, 29, Zaporozhye
Works as a railway worker, is fond of music, photography and travel .
I have been a donor since 2011, mostly donating plasma. He first became a donor when a colleague asked to donate blood for his relative before surgery. In addition, for most shift workers, donation is perhaps the only way to get leave other than annual leave.
In general, when you donate constantly, you always think about the responsibility you have to the recipient, and better monitor your health. In this way, donation seems to keep in shape and strengthen the immune system.
When I first donated blood, it was a little scary. But my fears about the pain of the procedure or the loss of consciousness during it did not come true. Interestingly, donation accustoms the body in case of an emergency to tolerate blood loss. If you want to become a donor, then follow your diet and follow the recommendations of doctors before the procedure, it will help avoid unpleasant situations. And always tell the truth about your health - remember the person who needs your help, as well as the fact that his life now and without that can hang over the abyss.
Nastya, 22, Ternopil
Works as a psychologist with children with autism, is engaged in human rights .
She became a blood donor less than a month ago, although she wanted to do so for the past few years, and finally succeeded. I’ve been thinking for a long time that I have a lot of resources that I can share with others - I don’t have a lot of extra time, much less extra money, but there’s always something I can do to help. For example, losing 450 ml of blood will not affect my body, and can save someone’s life. This is something that each of us can do without straining. Although in the end, I had to sweat a lot.
My first (both second and third) donation experience was a failure. At first, I was a minor, then I weighed too little, then I developed seasonal allergies and other health problems that do not interfere with life, but are not suitable for donation. Therefore, when I came to the Kyiv Blood Center, I was very worried that they would refuse again. And so they took my blood, and I felt terribly happy: finally, I could, my health is perfect for that! It was a kind of challenge for me: to gain a healthy weight, not to get tattoos and piercings during the year, to cure all the sores for which there is never time and resources.
For those who are thinking about donating, I advise you to look at the situation not only from the perspective of helping others. In the end, while I was preparing for the donation (for years!), I realized that I was helping myself in the first place. I have never had so much motivation - external, in the form of responsibility to others, with strict medical control of all health indicators - to focus on myself. Plus, it’s a really convenient way to monitor your health and get tested for various diseases for free. I realized that despite the loss of blood, I didn’t really lose anything, but rather gained - and I’m sure that everyone, giving a portion of their resource to others, also gains, not loses. It’s an incredible feeling to know that a few minutes of your time with a tube in hand saves the lives and health of a few strangers.
Let’s remember: a drop of blood is a drop of life! You can admire people who donate blood regularly. You can just as they save lives! You can encourage others to dare to do this feat. Many human lives depend on our actions, our self-sacrifice, our humanism, our charity, and perhaps it is you who is the one who can save someone’s life. You do not need to be a hero or have special abilities, just be a person. Let’s do good together!
Author Irina Ivanchenko
Read also: New discoveries: T-lymphocytes that kill cancer cells
Ivan, 32 years old, Kyiv .
He works in the Kyiv Patrol Police Department and is interested in fishing.
I first donated blood after the birth of my child in 2011. My wife was injected with rhesus antiglobulin in the maternity hospital, but needed blood from several donors, including me. Shortly after the birth of my son, my wife and I saw a social video about donation on TV. Probably, it was like a push for us, and we decided to try ourselves as donors. My wife and I are currently active donors to Okhmatdyt, and I personally have 34 platelets on my account. In addition, I try to promote donations on social networks, among my friends and colleagues. For those who are just planning to become a donor, I advise you not to be afraid of this procedure. First, you will always know about the state of your health, because when donating blood and its components do detailed tests. Secondly, it is not scary and safe, because all blood collection systems are disposable. For the first time, I was a little worried because I didn’t know what the procedure was and how I would tolerate it, so I can understand the worries of others. But I think that donation is very important, because it is difficult to find suitable donors. But often they are just catastrophically lacking, and then the time of human life is not days, but hours!
Iryna, 24, Kyiv Translator of fiction .
I have been a regular donor since I was 18, but had breaks due to some temporary contraindications. I have been dreaming of donating since I was 15, I really wanted to save someone’s life and help, because several times my friends and acquaintances also needed blood, and they were helped by donors. So as soon as I turned 18, I immediately became a donor for the first time.
For the first time, I was scared because I was very afraid of injections and pain. It’s all from childhood, when to donate blood from a finger was nervous, painful and unpleasant. I was worried as I filled out the questionnaire, as I talked to the doctor, but the procedure was not at all painful, and with every drop of blood I shared, I felt more and more comforted that it could save someone’s life.
For those who want to try themselves as a donor, I highly recommend doing so, if there are no absolute contraindications. It’s addictive!
Sometimes my friends call me a "donor addict" because I keep a close eye on when I can donate blood again.
I think that donating is useful because you will know your blood type, hemoglobin level, and some health tips. In addition, it is a chance to make this world a little better.
Alexander, 36 years old, Kyiv
Works in the police, is fond of spearfishing.
I have a donor’s certificate, I have been donating blood since 2008. Once a colleague at work said that her mother urgently needed blood, and everyone from our department went to donate blood. The first colleague was not allowed because he was a foreigner, three others were refused because they had Botkin, someone had low hemoglobin. As a result, there were three people left with me, and we passed more than the norm. This was my first donation experience. After that, we decided to get some food - we were given food stamps (then still given). And at the table they started talking about donation and that even if there is a person who wants to donate blood, it is not a fact that she can be a donor.
Then I realized that donors are people that others really need. After that, I began to donate blood constantly, mainly in the children’s hospital OKHMATDIT.
If you feel good, have the opportunity to donate blood, then do it, because you save lives!
Eugene, 29, Zaporozhye Works as a railway worker, is fond of music, photography and travel .
I have been a donor since 2011, mostly donating plasma. He first became a donor when a colleague asked to donate blood for his relative before surgery. In addition, for most shift workers, donation is perhaps the only way to get leave other than annual leave.
In general, when you donate constantly, you always think about the responsibility you have to the recipient, and better monitor your health. In this way, donation seems to keep in shape and strengthen the immune system.
When I first donated blood, it was a little scary. But my fears about the pain of the procedure or the loss of consciousness during it did not come true. Interestingly, donation accustoms the body in case of an emergency to tolerate blood loss. If you want to become a donor, then follow your diet and follow the recommendations of doctors before the procedure, it will help avoid unpleasant situations. And always tell the truth about your health - remember the person who needs your help, as well as the fact that his life now and without that can hang over the abyss.
Nastya, 22, Ternopil Works as a psychologist with children with autism, is engaged in human rights .
She became a blood donor less than a month ago, although she wanted to do so for the past few years, and finally succeeded. I’ve been thinking for a long time that I have a lot of resources that I can share with others - I don’t have a lot of extra time, much less extra money, but there’s always something I can do to help. For example, losing 450 ml of blood will not affect my body, and can save someone’s life. This is something that each of us can do without straining. Although in the end, I had to sweat a lot.
My first (both second and third) donation experience was a failure. At first, I was a minor, then I weighed too little, then I developed seasonal allergies and other health problems that do not interfere with life, but are not suitable for donation. Therefore, when I came to the Kyiv Blood Center, I was very worried that they would refuse again. And so they took my blood, and I felt terribly happy: finally, I could, my health is perfect for that! It was a kind of challenge for me: to gain a healthy weight, not to get tattoos and piercings during the year, to cure all the sores for which there is never time and resources.
For those who are thinking about donating, I advise you to look at the situation not only from the perspective of helping others. In the end, while I was preparing for the donation (for years!), I realized that I was helping myself in the first place. I have never had so much motivation - external, in the form of responsibility to others, with strict medical control of all health indicators - to focus on myself. Plus, it’s a really convenient way to monitor your health and get tested for various diseases for free. I realized that despite the loss of blood, I didn’t really lose anything, but rather gained - and I’m sure that everyone, giving a portion of their resource to others, also gains, not loses. It’s an incredible feeling to know that a few minutes of your time with a tube in hand saves the lives and health of a few strangers.
Let’s remember: a drop of blood is a drop of life! You can admire people who donate blood regularly. You can just as they save lives! You can encourage others to dare to do this feat. Many human lives depend on our actions, our self-sacrifice, our humanism, our charity, and perhaps it is you who is the one who can save someone’s life. You do not need to be a hero or have special abilities, just be a person. Let’s do good together! Author Irina Ivanchenko
Read also: New discoveries: T-lymphocytes that kill cancer cells