Snapshot One: Precious
Neal bent over to zip his daughter's (age 4? 5?) jacket as they walked towards the caf door. She let him zip it all the way past her chin without protesting. When he stood, she took the cookie in her hand and tried to put it in her mouth, colliding with the jacket zipper instead. Twice she pulled her hand back and jabbed the cookie more forcefully into her jacket. Finally she used her chin to open the zipper just enough to free her mouth and enjoy the caf's mass-produced sugar cookie.
Snapshot Two: Priceless
My friend Emily saw some firemen, in full uniform, building a snowman outside the firehouse. I'm jealous I didn't get to witness this.
Snapshot Three: Nerdy
Elizabeth's boyfriend Andy came into our apartment with a fanny pack of medical stuff that's his to keep. Of course, he had to try it out on himself and Elizabeth. It was hilarious because he's trying to take her blood pressure while she was going out her daily routine, typing papers, and conversing on Skype.
Elizabeth: What was it?
Andy: Good.
Elizabeth: Really?
Andy: Well, I couldn't get the bottom number because you kept moving but the top number was good.
Sometimes Andy and I fight like brother and sister. I consider it good practice because I don't have any biological brothers.
Katie: Nerdy.
Andy: If saving lives is nerdy, then yes.
Katie: Yes.
Andy: I'll keep that in mind in case you ever need to be saved.
Actually, I own and proudly wear a shirt that reads, "Talk nerdy to me." Andy designed it.
Snapshot Four: Compassionate
We were driving through town and saw an SUV stalled on the other side of the median. It had been turning left and died just before it got out of the intersection and into the lane. One intersection away from Wal-mart, this ranks up there as one of the worst places ever for a car to die. The passenger jumped out and started pushing on the side of the car. A few vehicles went around them, and a police officer continued he day obliviously. One car pulled over, and the male driver jumped out to help. A few seconds later, a mini van pulled over, and the male driver jumped out to help. A jeep blocked the lane and intersection behind them with emergency flashers. Together they got the SUV to the side of the road just after our light turned green again. There are caring people in this world!
Showing posts with label stethoscope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stethoscope. Show all posts
Monday, January 17, 2011
Friday, October 8, 2010
I finally did it!
Four years ago, as part of our university orientation class we had to make what is called a 50 by 50. Basically it's a bucket list of 50 things you want to accomplish by the time you turn 50. I never finished mine but on it was donate blood. I figured that would be one of those things I would do at 49 when my 50 by 50 resurfaced, unaccomplished. Well, I did at 49 but that was my donor number rather than my age.
Stephanie was sitting outside the caf on Tuesday trying to get people to sign up for appointments. I got "caught in the lunch rush" and didn't sign up. She caught me on the way out instead.
"Are you still thinking about donating?"
"Thinking about donating" was something I'd done for four years. The furthest I ever got was my first time: I got my mom to sign the permission form (I was 17) and signed up. Lo and behold in the two days between when I signed up and when my time came, I got a cold. I went by, talked to someone, and explained I had just a bit of a cold.
"We recommend you don't donate then because we don't want you to get any worser."
Yes, she said "worser." I cancelled my appointment and continued by day... cold free.
Another time I considered donating but I didn't weigh enough.
Then I went to Mexico... then Guatemala... then Costa Rica...
But now I'm one-year chloroquine-free (anti-malaria medicine that made me nauseous for nine weeks...), and I got bit by a dog. But even it if breaks the skin you're still eligible as long as the dog doesn't have rabies and the bite isn't inflammed or infected.
Ok, Moses, you're out of excuses.
I signed up for a time, told my roommates, and "ate healthy" for a day. I really have no idea what it means to "eat healthy," especially in a cafeteria, but I gave it my best shot. It apparently worked.
We had a few kinks: the once-over of doubt when I said I weigh more than 110 lbs, the lost stethoscope and blood pressure cuff, the woman vanishing on break while I was (giggling and) answering questions on the computer, and I had a very difficult time understanding the mumbled directions caked with a thick accent. Cattle herding.
As I was sitting there, needle in my arm, thinking. I thought about all of the germy surfaces surrounding me as blood poured from my vein. I realized that I have no memories of having blood drawn as a kid. None. I also thought about how mad Sarah got at me when she chose to read something I wrote while she was donating blood. "I'm in public with a needle in my arm, and I'm shouting, crying, and giggling. People keep asking if I'm ok, and it's all your fault!" I thought about my amazing roommates who called me exactly as I was struck with the needle. No, I didn't pass out!
All of this babbering to say: I finally did it! Another fear conquered! Another item crossed off the 50 by 50!
The goal for our blood drive was 90 units of blood. I was there two hours before it was supposed to close and we were barely halfway there, and the woman at the door was getting really nervous about coming in so low. Two hours later, they stopped taking walk-ins, but the existing line left them there for an extra hour. We raised 106 units! God is good!
If you're eligible to donate, there is a huge need right now. Check out The American Red Cross or your local blood center. Be a hero. Give an hour of your life to save three (lives that is).
<>< Katie
Stephanie was sitting outside the caf on Tuesday trying to get people to sign up for appointments. I got "caught in the lunch rush" and didn't sign up. She caught me on the way out instead.
"Are you still thinking about donating?"
"Thinking about donating" was something I'd done for four years. The furthest I ever got was my first time: I got my mom to sign the permission form (I was 17) and signed up. Lo and behold in the two days between when I signed up and when my time came, I got a cold. I went by, talked to someone, and explained I had just a bit of a cold.
"We recommend you don't donate then because we don't want you to get any worser."
Yes, she said "worser." I cancelled my appointment and continued by day... cold free.
Another time I considered donating but I didn't weigh enough.
Then I went to Mexico... then Guatemala... then Costa Rica...
But now I'm one-year chloroquine-free (anti-malaria medicine that made me nauseous for nine weeks...), and I got bit by a dog. But even it if breaks the skin you're still eligible as long as the dog doesn't have rabies and the bite isn't inflammed or infected.
Ok, Moses, you're out of excuses.
I signed up for a time, told my roommates, and "ate healthy" for a day. I really have no idea what it means to "eat healthy," especially in a cafeteria, but I gave it my best shot. It apparently worked.
We had a few kinks: the once-over of doubt when I said I weigh more than 110 lbs, the lost stethoscope and blood pressure cuff, the woman vanishing on break while I was (giggling and) answering questions on the computer, and I had a very difficult time understanding the mumbled directions caked with a thick accent. Cattle herding.
As I was sitting there, needle in my arm, thinking. I thought about all of the germy surfaces surrounding me as blood poured from my vein. I realized that I have no memories of having blood drawn as a kid. None. I also thought about how mad Sarah got at me when she chose to read something I wrote while she was donating blood. "I'm in public with a needle in my arm, and I'm shouting, crying, and giggling. People keep asking if I'm ok, and it's all your fault!" I thought about my amazing roommates who called me exactly as I was struck with the needle. No, I didn't pass out!
All of this babbering to say: I finally did it! Another fear conquered! Another item crossed off the 50 by 50!
The goal for our blood drive was 90 units of blood. I was there two hours before it was supposed to close and we were barely halfway there, and the woman at the door was getting really nervous about coming in so low. Two hours later, they stopped taking walk-ins, but the existing line left them there for an extra hour. We raised 106 units! God is good!
If you're eligible to donate, there is a huge need right now. Check out The American Red Cross or your local blood center. Be a hero. Give an hour of your life to save three (lives that is).
<>< Katie
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