I've Got The Whole World In My Hand...
"He's got the whole world.. in his hands...
He's got the whole wide world.... in his hands..."
I can still vaguely remember this familiar song from the movie "CONAIR" many years ago. OK.. this movie may be very "alien" to most youths, but for the not-so-youthful people, you guys should remember this show right? Hahaha...
And as I sat on the comfortable arm chair of Singapore General Hospital yesterday late morning, I literally had the whole wide world in my hand.. and I was squeezing it! For the past 3 years, I have been an active donor of blood platelets at SGH for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. I am not really good with the biology stuff here, but basically all I know is that the chemotherapy wipes out not just the cancer cells, but also the good cells, thus the patients would need new supplies of platelets to help boost their immune system.
Anyway, I sat on the arm chair for 2 hours, undergoing 6 cycles of blood dialysis (by right should have been 3 hours for 8 cycles, but cut short due to lunch break =P), my arm was getting sore and painful especially at the needle point where blood was constantly drawn and pumped back. On the other hand, I was SMS-ing my friends, keeping myself busy and trying to distract my thoughts away from the nagging pain.
Tick tock... tick tock... 1:00PM and finally the whole procedure was over. I rested, drank a cup of hot milo and left SGH with a cute handiplast on my arm. And as I walked out of the ward, I starred into other rooms and saw cancer patients getting platelets transfusion. One of them even smiled and waved at me.. I don't even know him! I wandered, "Maybe he got my platelets!"
Reflection: Looking at the smile on his face and knowing that he will live to see another day, every bit of the pain was worthwhile. The focus was not to be on the pain, but rather in seeing the joy and hope that arises in a person's life when we make that little sacrifice.
I remember this quote from a famous book.. "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."
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4 comments:
Wow, did not know that you are a donor of blood platelets. Was thinking of donating blood around next month. However I am not sure if I am eligible or healthy enough.
Do u know anyone else donate blood regularly?
Oh, the criteria for blood donation and blood platelet donation are roughly the same. I guess you should meet the minimum weight criteria of 50kg? And most importantly have visible vein lines for easy "poking" of needle.
For blood platelets, the first round will just be drawing of blood for screening.
If you need more details can drop me a SMS. =)
wow u definity see things in a better perspective.. haha.. that sth i can learn frm my peng you :) i went to test my blood whether i could b a donor turns out i cant! i have low blood count.. haha maybe god knew i couldnt take the pain..
ouch!!!
its so scarry!!! d needle so big!!!
eeeeeel...mus b super painful...
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