Okay, now that that is out of the way, the real story is that I actually had to fight to be able to donate.
It all started a year ago when I got back from Korea and tried to donate in Aylmer. Unfortunately, Hema-Quebec turned me away because Korea was a malarial zone. I can understand that, so I took my bruised pride home. Why bruised? I was so proud to donate blood and make a help people. But I couldn't this time, and I couldn't for a full year.
So now it's a year later and I wanted to try again. But when I got there and did the interview, the nurse said "Oh, it's a one year deferral if you VISITED Korea. It's three years if you LIVED there." Some logical arguments from me, searching the handbook, calling the head nurse and contacting the pros later....I win! I argued my case and came out on top! Since I lived in Seoul (a fully developed area) and only visited rural Korea, I was NOT malarial. And the head nurse/pros at Canadian Blood Services agreed!
To make a long story short and a short story merry, I donated my blood, and I ate the cookies and drank the juice!
My next appointment is June 12th. Whoever wants to come and save a few lives with me is MOST WELCOME! :)
