May 21, 2013
The Joy of Apheresis
continued
I take this vacation attended by lovely folks who make sure I'm comfortable, offering chilled juices and water as well as cookies, crackers, or pretzels to nibble. As an added bonus I get a mini physical--free. At the end not only are there no regrets, but the thanks and appreciation just don't stop. And they are sincere.
I've discovered the joy of apheresis.
According to Wikipedia:
Apheresis (Greek: "to take away") is a medical technology in which the blood of a donor or patient is passed through an apparatus that separates out one particular constituent and returns the remainder to the circulation.Once a month, I schedule a visit to the local Red Cross on Packard. When I arrive, I quickly read the guidelines to confirm I haven't been exposed to any diseases or medications that would make me ineligible to donate--it's critical that the Red Cross collect only safe blood. Next they confirm that I am healthy, taking vital signs and hematocrit (iron levels). Finally I'm taken to one of four stations where the chair or bed is adjusted till I'm comfortable. Pillows, heating pad, and blankets are added as needed. There's a personal DVD player--if you forget to bring your own video, they have a selection of fifty or so to choose from.
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