My husband is a very manly man. He is a mechanic by trade and formerly drove and built race cars. He is also about 6' and 250 lbs.
One would never think that a big tough guy like him would faint at the drop of ....well, a drop of blood. But, he does and has ...many times. Couple that with his irrational fear of needles and you have yourself a big old scaredy cat.
But, when our eight year old came home from school with a blood donor card and her big brown eyes and gave him the pitch about how he could save 3-5 lives with just one pint of blood, he couldn't tell her no. Much to his dismay, his wife who has no fear of needles or blood is anemic and ineligible to donate.
Anyway, he did not sleep well the night prior to, waking up in a cold sweat with nightmares about large needles and bleeding to death in front of his youngest child. He had gotten himself pretty worked up and was very close to backing out. He talked to a friend who assured him that the needles are small and that it is impossible for him to bleed out in the process. Then he called me, because he knows I will lovingly encourage him and sympathize with his plight, right? Wrong! I told him to buck up and get on with it. Millions of people have given blood and lived. If I can give birth, he can give blood. So sweet, I know.
The fateful hour arrives and I drive him to the school to make sure he doesn't keep on going. He entered the building to find another dad there that he knew well who told him he gives blood all the time ( and he lives). They went through their testing and donation process together. (A big thanks to Matt for being such a good example!)
Michael not only gave blood, he didn't even pass out - well, not completely. He did get a little light headed, but he made it all the way through. And I am so proud!!!!
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