Monday, September 16

my church held a blood drive today. my little brother and lots of friends donated. i am an occasional blood donor: i donated several times in college, and once on 9/11/01, and was planning to do so today, but in the rush of things, wasn't able to.

jeehye's blog reminded me of some thoughts i had on blood:

on the wards, i get to see blood in bags, blood in little tubes (drawn by yours truly), blood squirting from vessels, blood splattered all over drapes, blood all over my gown (not a pleasant experience, especially when it dries, crusts, then crackles as you move), boots, and scrubs.

i am so used to the sight of blood now that i no longer panic when i see it. i also think that i beginning to KNOW the smell of blood. maybe it is the iron in the heme? i don't know, but i feel like i am so familiar with the smell of blood, that i can smell blood even in my patient's crap, without doing a guiac test (gloved finger goes into rectum to pick up a stool sample, which is then smeared on a card. a solution is put onto the card, and if it turns blue, then there's blood in your gastrointestinal system).

yeah, it's a special ability i'm gaining. see what wondrous things you learn in medicine?

yakob at 1:58 AM

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