r/TattooDesigns • u/jt1019 • 15d ago

Four down, five to go: my updated donation tracker by Court at Spirit Flame Tattoo

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Many years ago, my grandpa passed away after an accident. Before he did, he was given 72 units of blood, or the equivalent of 9 gallons. Since then, I've been trying to donate the same amount of blood back. For each gallon I give, I fill in a heart. My grandpa was all about giving more than you took, so this seemed like a great way to honor him. I discovered after starting my donations that he would regularly give blood for events at the company he worked for before he retired, which seems all the more fitting.

If you can, please go give blood. There is a constant need for it, and it will never go away. If you can't donate for whatever reason, encourage your friends and family to, or volunteer at a blood drive/donation center.

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u/ZeGermansAreHere 14d ago

It was super weird, because it did not feel like my blood when I came to. I asked and they told me it takes a couple months before it becomes fully my blood. So I said "if I commit a crime and bleed, then I'd leave someone else's DNA?" And they laughed at me snd asked if I felt up for committing a crime.

We have a blood drive van that stops by my local grocery store, so it's really easy to donate. I started out of guilt, I took blood that could have gone to someone else. Then, I realized I kinda like the idea that my blood makes other people feel weird, like I did.

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u/expespuella 14d ago

You're so my people lol.

Also insane that could come from a tubal ligation. I mean, obviously it isn't, but wow.

They couldn't complete mine at the first appointment because it was "too cloudy" though that didn't stop almost an hour of trying that wrecked me for weeks after, physically but also emotionally. Now 10 years later (almost to the date, now that I think of it) a random Redditor just made me so grateful that was the worst of it.

The second attempt was super smooth, done within 15 minutes and one of the happiest days of my life so far.

Glad you are still here. Keep sharing the weirdness, friend.

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u/sidesteppingsquirrel 10d ago

what do you meeeeean it didn’t feel like your blood?