Monday, September 29, 2008

500 times

500 Times I've donated plasma as of today!!!! Can you believe that? I never thought I'd keep going long enough to even reach 100 and now I'm at 500. Guess I'll keep going till I hit 1000.

They gave me a $50 dollar bonus on top of the regular amount they pay. Great day!!! Hopefully someone is benefiting from all this plasma.

8 comments:

Team Clark said...

Wow - are you serious? 500 times? How long has that taken you?
I've been thinking about donating plasma for a little side job, but I haven't decided yet.
But I can't believe you've done it so many times - that's just crazy!
Do you have tracks in your arms? :)

Michelle said...

500 times took me around 6 years. I have donated twice a week for the whole 6 years except when I've been sick or been denied for low hematocrit or low protein. Most plasma centers will pay $20 for your first donation in the week and then $30 for the 2nd donation in the week. The 2nd donation is always higher because they like to send in 2 full bottles. My plasma center pays $35 for the 1st donation and then $50 for the 2nd donation. This varies from month to month depending on the other center in town and what they are offering, they compete for patients.
I don't have tracks in my arms, only one hole and a bump from scar tissue. It's totally worth the several thousand dollars I have earned in 6 years to pay for vacations and extras as you can imagine that come up with having children. I'm so glad that they pay for your time (as they put it) to do the donating because I have had so much time to read and also listen to my ipod tunes for my aerobics classes. It takes an hour each time and it's well worth it. All you do first is make an appointment at your local center and at that appt. they will do a mini physical and ask you lots of questions about high risk behavior. When you pass their tests you get to donate up to twice a week for the rest of forever as long as you stay healthy.

Kaitlin Lanham said...

Wow Michelle! That is amazing! I could never do that. I am to freaked out by that kind of stuff to ever do it myself. I wish I wasn't in a way.
My friend Steven was actually saying that he would love to do that, give plasma, today. I told him that you did it and he thought that was so cool.
Keep it up!

Michelle said...

Hi Katy,

I was like you, nervous about needles, but over time I realized it wasn't so bad. I still can't look at them when they stick me, but once the needle is in everything is okay and it doesn't hurt anymore. The best thing is you are getting some extra spending cash to save for trips or extras. For the longest time this money would pay our groceries and fuel.

Mike and Adrianne said...

How are things going with the babysitting thing?

Michelle said...

Awesome. I love being home so much. I'm getting a ton done and Bella is so good right now. She just eats, plays, sleeps. Pretty much that's it. I just love being home for 3 days of the week.

LanceandNance said...

Nancy and I actually donated plasma while we were dating. It helped me pay for what I needed for the wedding. We haven't been back for quite some time now. Maybe I'll have to start doing it again to survive when the baby comes. 500 times is a ton of plasma!

Michelle said...

I just love doing it because I know I'm helping others, but making a decent amount of extra money on the side in my free time. I think anyone that is healthy and passes to donate should if they have the time because there are so many that need plasma, it is used for so many things.