Five days before the procedure I was given a shot called Filgrastim which caused my body to produce more blood forming cells in my body. It was an interesting experience. :-) I became not so afraid of getting shots, and I found out that the more relaxed I was the less it hurt.
I am so thankful for the sweet nurse that God gave me for the week. Her name was Jeanene and she is a preacher's wife and the sweetest woman in the world. I enjoyed talking with her through the process. She prayed with me the last day of my shots and it was such a blessing and a comfort. Made me even more excited about becoming a nurse one day.
So form Sunday to Wednesday I went in each day to get a shot in each arm. After class on Wednesday Mom and I went down to our hotel for the night. The National Marrow Donor Program paid for us to stay in a hotel right across form the donation site. Another amazing blessing. From all the generous donations of people all across the country people the program could pay for our accommodations.
It was so nice to be able to just relax in a nice comfy bed. I was so tired and sore in my lower back. I felt like a queen amongst all the soft pillows. Words can't even describe how unworthy I felt through this process. The National Marrow Program took such good care of us with accommodations.
Thursday morning we woke up at 6;30 so we could be at the blood center by 7. That morning I got my last shot of Filgrastim. Afterwards mom and I went and ate lunch at a yummy cafe across the street for about an hour. From there we head back to the blood center for the donation procedure.
Again the nurses were so amazing. After some initial prepping the put one steel needle in my right arm where the blood would be taken out, and one normal needle in my left arm where the blood would enter back into my body. The hardest part of it all was the fact that I couldn't bend my right arm at all because the steel needle would damage my veins. I didn't realize just how often you bend your elbows until I couldn't bend mine at all. So thankful for such compassionate nurses who helped adjust my arm and massage my arm muscles when my arm would begin to hurt so bad. My total volume of blood donation was 18 liters. The nurses told me based on my total body blood volume the blood had to completely circulate through my body about 5-6 times. The total procedure lasted about 4 hours and 30 minutes. My mom helped keep me distracted. And they had a nice set up to where we could watch movies while I was laying there. We watched episodes of Murphy Brown and the movie Leap Year. Helped me to laugh and stay distracted through it all. :-)
The whole process has been so amazing. I still can't believe I was given the opportunity to be a part of something like this. I just keep praying hard for the patient and the family. That God would give them peace through the process and that God would protect the patient from infection. God has taught and shown me so much through this. That while I may be little has made me mighty. That I don't have to go out and be a big super hero kind of person to make a difference in the world. God can use me right here where I am at if I am willing. I don't have to have all the right words. I just have to be still and know that he is God and he works in and though every one.
If you think you would like to make a difference just like I have or even by donating blood I would encourage you to do so. I know by being in blood centers they always need willing people to come donate blood or platelets. If you would like to join the Be the Match Registry to see if you one day might be a match like I was I posted the link at the end of the blog.
God is so amazing and is just amazing at how he works everything together. I started this whole process at Rochester College in Michigan. The patient I donated to lives in Michigan. I am a small person and the patient ended up being a small person as well. He works all the together for the good, and he does it perfectly. I hope one day I get to hear from the patient but even if I don't I am just so thankful I got to be a part of the big picture. Please continue to pray for the family and the patient receiving the donation. Pray her body has received it well and that the patient would be protected form infection.
http://marrow.org/Join/Join_the_Registry.aspx
