Pardon me, but there is a soapbox and I want to stand on it for a moment.
So, what the hell anyway? Back in 1989 I was in the military and donating blood on a regular basis. Then I received a letter, it seems that my blood was no longer good for donation. I was ‘deferred for life’. At the time, I did not think anything of it, actually I did not note the ‘deferrment’.
About five years ago, I tried donating again. I was told that I was not able to donate with the Oklahoma Blood Institute. If I wanted to donate I would have to have additional tests done to have the deferment removed from my name. Time and tide just did nto allow me to travel from Chickasha to Oklahoma City and visit the main offices of the OBI and have my blood drawn for these test. At least not during the week I was either in school, working at Staples or (at the time) trying to keep my failing marriage from crashing down around my ears.
Well it is 2009, my marriage crashed a few years ago, I am no longer in college and I am now living in Oklahoma City again. Yeah! Last year I tried again (I had forgotten about my previous failure) and was informed of my deferment. That’s okay, I can fix it this year so I go to the OBI offices two weeks ago and have my blood drawn for testing. Easie peasie, right? Don’t I wish.
When I first got to the offices I was told they did not know what I was talking about and could not access the main system to look up my records to figure it all out. However, they would call in the morning and straighten things out. So, they call be back, now they knew what they needed to test for and I could come back in the office to have the tests run.
I get back into the office and the man behind the desk looks up and says, “That will be $65.” I reply, “I don’t think so. These tests are for you folks only and only so I can donate blood, that you are constantly advertising you are in short supply of.” Gees. To this he replies, “Oh-kay, let me call someone to ask.” Can you hear the Jeopardy theme song by now? I could.. .
So he calls, I wait and it is all finally cleared up, they are now authorized to poke a hole in my arm and drain out 5 viles of my precious bodily fluid. They tell me it will take about a week and I will be able to donate, if I pass the test. I should I have been studying, right?
This all became and issue because my company has their annual blood drive and I want to participate. I know my blood is the same type as most of the country, but I want to help, ya know? So I get to my 10:30am appointment to have my blood drawn. At first the lady was at least ambivalent about my presence (I figure they poke lots of people and these people are not know for their drive and people skills), but after I am marked as deferred, I am told to call the number and make way for the next person. Even if I was cleared in the system, it will be next time around for me to donate. “Well fuck.” Yes, I know, a profanity, but I do want it to be clear, that was a very well placed, long thought out and emphasized expression.
Okay, so I call. And I wait. After the third transfer to talk to someone in another department, because they can not access the system, I gave up and hung up the phone. “Deferred for life.” I felt like I had a tattoo on my forehead, “Leper”.
Now I know, cognitively at any rate, that I am not any less of a person for my life sentence. Its not like I was placed in prison or anything. Hell, I have been trying to give blood, partly because they are always asking for donations. But it still feels like a slap in the face, in front of my co-workers. “There goes Thetford, he has been deferred for life.”
So I go to lunch and the restaurant I go to is only taking cash. And, of course, I do not carry cash much anymore. “Well fuck.”
Okay, better out than in and I am done with this subject.