A Blood Banker's Story

EXCITEMENT.

That is exactly what i felt the moment that my classmate told me that we are required to bring our donor for our BB laboratory class; for those who are not into the field, BB is Blood Banking :))

Learning how to bleed a donor is one thing i am really INTERESTED. I am an advocate of Giving/Donating Blood. In fact, i am a regular blood donor. I am willing to give a part of me (like my blood) to whoever who needs it. This is because i believe that giving blood can be a way of thanking GOD.

So being a part of the donation process is indeed a significant experience to me. Not only as a Medical technologist but also as a person who is thankful to the good health condition that GOD has given me.

The first thing i did is to find a donor, i browsed into my phone contacts and saw Web’s number (a medtech 3rd year friend).

i texted him saying: “can i ask for a favor?”

he immediately replied: sure. what is it?

me:  i hope you wont change your mind after you hear this.

web: lol. seems like i knew it already.

me: yes. i need a donor for the BB class.

i got so nervous, thinking he’ll change his mind. but to my surprise he still said “YES, ako na donor mo” :))

i asked him to fill up the donor form and go to the school clinic for the physical check up. To my surprise he got deferred :( (not because he is sick, but because he took some medications)

Finding a healthy/fit donor is HARD, but you know what is HARDER? it is finding a person who is whole heartedly willing to DONATE. Everyone seems to be afraid of it. Just by hearing the word Blood donor they immediately say NO and move away as if i have a highly contagious disease that would infect them. I even got silly and annoying answers like : ” I CAN’T, COZ I HAVE A TATTOO ON MY BUTT” , “I CAN’T COZ MY BLOOD IS GREEN” , AND WORST IS “I CANT COZ I DON’T HAVE BLOOD”.

C’Mon people why are you so afraid? i won’t lie and say its Painless. of course you’ll feel pain, but the pain is tolerable, especially if you put in mind that you are actually about to save someones LIFE.

Finally, 2 days before the scheduled date i found a good hearted person willing to donate; someone like me, a regular BLOOD DONOR.

I told him its my First time to use that straw like needle. (im expecting him to back out) but he didnt. He even told me: there’s nothing to worry basta wag ko wawasakin vein niya. STRONG naman daw siya :) (he’s really a nice person)

and then, the day all of us have been waiting for. I got really nervous and stresses by the time na ako na. OO. ako na. TURN ko na! Jai’s (my donor) median and cephalic veins are not prominent yung basilic lang and prominent. I had to choose between the median vein or basilic. But the basilic vein is the most painful. I dont want to risk and puncture the median vein which i could not even palpate. So ayun, kahit masakit basilic vein nalang instead of the median.And since the basilic vein is a moveable vein i have to hold the needle in place until the bag is filled. (Sorry jai.pinili ko basilic because i dont want to make more than one shot in filling up the blood bag.) I know its painful thats why i am so thankful that all of the time i ask you how does it feel you always say “oks lang”. 

The most precious and heart warming part is when my teacher told me: Nowie, ang galing. Medtech kana. Congrats :)) - those words may mean nothing to others, but for me those words made me much stronger and more determined of becoming a REGISTERED MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST.

I learned a lot through that experience. Its something i will never forget. <3

I'm almost there.

Yes i am almost there. Months from now i'll be a Medical Technology intern,

and i"ll be graduating soon :)

The days passed by so fast, let me share you some of my unforgettable moments as a 3rd year Medical Technology Student :)

Gram Positive Staphylococcus aureus
 from my classmate's pimple.

Let me start with the face wrecking MICROBIOLOGY; literally face wrecking because every laboratory period we come in close contact with LOTS of bacteria particularly Staphylococcus aureus which causes pimples.

From all the laboratory classes i had (can't count them all coz they're too many) i enjoyed MICRO lab the most in spite of the fact that every lab period i go home with another pimple popping out my forehead.

Several antibiotic discs
were tested against E.coli

Culture, Identification and Sensitivity are the 3 most important things i learned from the subject, these things are important in identifying unknown diseases caused by unknown microorganisms.

With the help of microbiology we can artificially grow bacteria and perform laboratory tests necessary in the identification of the bacteria type or even up to its specie name. Once the microorganism is already identified it would be easy to find a drug that can kill it through antibiotic sensitivity testing.

Now let us talk about the appetite destroying PARASITOLOGY that makes me imagine my favorite spaghetti as a bolus of Ascaris lumbricoides.

Human Whip worm or Trichuris trichiura
 from a 5 year old kid

When we were still in the lower years i hate it when the teacher tells us to wear the complete PPE or personal protective equipment, i always say : "why do i need to wear a mask and hairnet?" it is because during those lab periods we don't come into close contact with biological hazards.

What is funny is when parasitology lab came, we all wore the needed PPE; from the laboratory gown (buttons all closed), mask (doubled and sometimes even tripled with handkerchief), gloves and hairnet (hair even tied up and clipped).

 If you are still wondering WHAT is the CAUSE OF THIS SUDDEN CHANGE I'll answer you with a question, DO YOU WANT YOUR HAIR or YOUR SKIN to come in contact with POOP? LOL XD.

 Yes. poop. Every lab period we are poking and observing sh*t. Not only because it is nasty to get poop in your hair or skin, the poop we are handling are pathologic ones. These samples came from persons with parasites on their stomachs.

HELL weeks. 

We usually call the "exam week" as "hell week", this is one of the most depressing part of being a student. Major exams.Long Tests. Requirements ; things that make us students stay up late or even sometimes deprives us from sleeping.

I have experienced going to school without sleep at all. I remember that it is because i have to finish a requirement; i am not the kind of student that likes to rush things and do projects the last minute before submission. During that time there is a misunderstanding between us and the professor. We were not informed about the requirement, we just knew about it the night before the day of submission. STRESSFUL huh? 

"My 3rd Blood Donation"

Lets forget about the stressful things and talk about happy moments :))

If i'll be asked what is the most fulfilling thing i did during my 3rd year in this course i'll be proud to say that "I DONATED BLOOD". 

For me, donating blood is like giving life.Giving some of my blood is my own way of thanking God the father for the good health condition i have and all the blessings i receive, its like paying him back; God will me so much happy if he see's us (his children) care for others.

Check out my blog about blog donation :) just click on the link. HELP SAVE LIVES

There are still a lot more to share but i cant type it all. 

Everyone says that Third year is the hardest part(in our course). It's actually true, i couldn't agree more. But i do believe that GOD will never let us be in a situation that he knows we can't handle. To all those who are struggling in their studies just believe in yourself. Do it. Never hesitate and doubt your abilities. I believe that in reaching your dreams you don't have to be super smart, you just have to be hardworking. Do everything with your best effort and don't forget to ask God's guidance. You will surely make it till the end.

-Stay positive. That is how i see life. I hope you enjoyed reading :) God bless :)

Philippians 4:13

New International Version (NIV)

¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Why do insects fly toward light?

Its 10:09 pm. I'm in my mom's room browsing the internet, mom told me to turn the lights off because she can's sleep with the lights on. but when i did all the insects came to the screen of my laptop bothering me all the time.

"Insect flying around my laptop screen"

I came up with this question: Why do insects fly toward light?

Based on what i've googled, this response exhibited by insects is due to phototaxis. 

Phototaxis  is a locomotory movement, that occurs when a whole organism moves in response to the stimulus of light.

There are 2 kinds of Phototaxis:

• Positive Phototaxis the movement is in the direction of increasing light intensity
• Moths, flies, and other flying insects

• Negative Phototaxis the movement is in the direction of decreasing light intensity
• cockroaches and worms

Aside from that, a lot were saying that insects use the light as navigation aid. For example a moth is heading north, the sun/moon will be its lights source,it will keep its navigation aid on one side of its body.

But if for an instance there is a nearer light source in the area aside from the sun/moon there is a big possibility that it will be confused and go to that nearer light source. Then  it would fly in an endless circle around the misidentified light source while attempting to keep it on their right side.

Beach Photography :)

My family and I were planning about a summer getaway, PLAN A was to go Baguio and enjoy the good weather, but my cousins would love to try the beach, So there comes PLAN B. Go to the beach. where? in Subic. But we ended up going to a beach near subic. THE BALOY BEACH RESORT in Olongapo :) Its a nice place, so nice that i wouldn't let the day end without taking photos! :)

Here are some of the pictures i took using my camera and Yves' camera (cousin) :)

"Summer Heat"

"Abandoned"

"Savior"

"Azul"

"Lubid"

"Beach Volley"

"Beach Walk" 

"Under the Sea"

"Bitwin"

"Light House"

Pathway of Life

Its in your own hands.

 No matter what others tell you follow what you think is right.

 Its your Life. 

Therefore it should always be your decision.

But always make sure you're going the right way.

There's no one to blame but yourself.

Photo Credit: Nowiena Joyce G. Serrano

Location: Bacolor Church

FRIENDSHIP

Ask yourself, "What is life without friends?" 

“Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?” 

Proverbs 20:6, NLT


Once you find them in your journey of life treasure them.
 KEEP THEM.
Love them with all your heart.
Because no one knows if you'll be lucky to find someone as TRUE as they are to you.

Photo Credit: Nowiena Joyce G. Serrano 
Location: Carmenville, Angeles City
*Sam Naluz and Jem Wooden(my lovely friends at the photo)

Clinical Chemistry BLOG?

This afternoon we were instructed by our professor to make our own blog, its a requirement for us.

We will make a blog about our subject "Clinical Chemistry". 

The moment i heard we are required to have a blog i immediately felt the excitement ,Why? because i don't find making a blog as a requirement that would make my head ache but something to be happy about. I like writing and expressing my thoughts over twitter, Facebook and here but i think it will be more exciting to write about things you learn at school. 

Making a blog about the subject will definitely encourage each one of us not only to listen well but also to study and research on our own. Like what my professors always tell us:

 "The time alloted for the subject is limited, We can't talk and discuss about everything, you should read more books and research more at home"

And blogging is one way of making us do the research and reading. Aside from sharing my thoughts/opinions about a certain topic and to share the information to everyone i would like to totally develop my self as a person and definitely writing would help.

I admit there maybe some grammatical errors at first because i'm still learning, but i believe that in time i can be as good as the others. As the famous quotations says: "there's always a room for improvement", making mistakes is okay, you just have to learn from it.

And you always have to trust yourself and trust GOD. he's always on your side.