Warning!!! Do not read if you are scared of blood!!!!

Yesterday I finished one of my New Years Goals...I gave blood for the first time EVER!!!!

I have to admit...I was a little scared, OK  a lot scared! I had been told that ARUP was the best place to have it done. They did a great job and I might even think about doing it again...someday.

This tree is amazing. Every leaf has a name on it, they each have given blood at least 30 times, wow!

Here is the step by step process : This is the cool chair they have you sit in.

This is the cool black squishy thing they have you squeeze to help your veins stick out.

This is the cool "alternative" tape they had to use to secure the needle...I was allergic to the original tape.

And...the blood is flowing. I look a little freaked out here, but really...I was fine :)

She had me touch the line that my blood was flowing through...it was so warm. It was a little creepy.

Look...all done...and I lived :)

She even made my bandage look pretty...cause we all know its truly about looking pretty, haha.

And then I got a parting gift for donating...a free pint of ice cream and a free movie ticket...awesome!

I really did learn a lot about the blood giving process and how valued it is. I wish I was a little braver so that I felt like I could do it more often.  But lets be honest...I was terrified. It's over, and now I can mark something off of my New Years goal list, yippee :)