I have been terrified of donating blood my entire life. I have literally passed out or almost passed out several times just getting my blood drawn for medical tests. I have a phobia of needles and blood, although it's become milder after having three children. When the "shelter-in-place" started I felt restless. My mom is an ER nurse, my brother works at Kroger, I had an aunt and cousin (just a few months shy of graduating with her RN degree) who were still going to their jobs in a nursing home, and here I was sitting at home doing nothing to help the pandemic situation. I kept seeing commercials on TV about how the Red Cross needed blood donations even more during this time. I'd always wanted to donate blood, I just was never brave enough to bring myself to do it. But sitting around home feeling helpless I decided that the least I could do to help my fellow humans was to get over my fear. So, on April 21,2020 I gave blood for the first time. I got really woozy and The Red Cross employees had to tag team to help me get through it, but I did it and I'm donating again next week.
Emily Rinaman