Many people have a natural, unexplained fear of donating blood. They would instead donate a fortune than give something as simple as blood. It is either a fear of getting weak, sick, or both. Anxiety is normal, it’s a natural preservation reaction, and we are born with it; it is not gained.
Giving and sharing what we have is part of being human, but we also see it in other animals, like monkeys, dogs, cats, etc. We could choose to give blood if we want to help other people if we knew their lives depended on us. Probably animals would do the same if they could understand and make this decision. We have seen various selfless acts of animals protecting, sharing, and being kind to one another, so why not rightfully assume they would gladly donate something to benefit others? It is a tough decision when you fear the effects, but why not look at the facts? So many people are giving blood, and they have no health problems. They benefit from having their blood checked thoroughly for free regularly and continue doing it because they know there are no risks; the process is straightforward, and, in the end, you get an immense feeling of satisfaction because you contributed to saving someone’s life. This feeling is priceless. It makes you human, brings you closer to people, and gives you a sense of life’s meaning and worth. When I signed Gruia up for donating blood, I only regret that he couldn’t fully understand the great gift he was offering to other animals – life. He would be spoiled rotten, got cuddles and treats and love, but he wouldn’t know he saved so many lives. However, I got triple satisfaction knowing I saved humans, cats, and dogs. That’s right because Gruia also saved several cats who were almost dying when they got to the clinic, but he gave them fresh blood, and now one of them is named after him – Gruia the cat. He even borrowed parts of his dog behavior – like sleeping with his feet up in the air or cuddling and sleeping all day. Oh wait, all cats sleep all day!
Gruia saved more than 50 dogs and 3 cats, and I have donated blood ten times. I can guarantee that not once did I experience any side effects or health problems because of that. During the blood donation, you don’t get light-headed or sick. The regular blood quantity is 450ml, an amount that gets quickly regenerated in 72 hours. This is why it is crucial to have a rich breakfast before donating blood, drink enough water, and care for yourself properly. It goes the same for animal donors – they must be well-fed, hydrated, and loved. Also, you comforting them during the blood donation process is the closest they can get to the feeling of satisfaction for saving lives. Your energy and love are transmitted during the process, and I think they understand what they are doing. Many high-energy dogs would be patient while donating blood; it was as if they understood they needed to stay still for a few minutes. The blood bank team from Hemopet and CTS can give you more information about the process – do not hesitate to ask. There is so much you can do to help with so little effort.
Coming back to fear – fear is natural, it is good, and it helps you stay safe. However, fighting your fears can help you become a stronger human being. Great experiences and feelings wait for you on the other side of fear! Why not try donating blood for the first time? You can then share your experience here for others to see and try to overcome their fears.
