Blood Drive

They do a lot of community-centric events at my work. Book donations, community work projects, pet food drives, and blood drives. A lot of the events are incentivized by giving rewards to teams that have the highest percentage of participation, best improvement in participation, and overall number of participants.

Yesterday was the semi-annual blood drive. I work with a highly competitive group of people, and the pressure was on to win one of the awards. During a team meeting, I decided to end the conversation of why I was not "a team player" that "participates in team events" by calling the information number for the Puget Sound Blood Bank.

The conversation went like this (oh, and on speaker phone, during the meeting):
BC: Hi and thanks for calling the Puget Sound Blood Bank Clinical Services line. This is so-and-so, how can we help you?
Me: Hi! My name is Tanya. We're having a blood drive at work, and I had some questions about my potential eligibility to donate.
BC: Sure, what are your questions?
Me: I'm receiving TNF blocker immuno-suppresant IV therapy for arhtritis every 7 weeks via portacath in my chest. I had so many IV infusions last year that the veins in my arms and hands are shot. Oh, and I have pernicious anemia and my blood type is A+. Can I donate?
BC: (....silence.....)
BC: Ummmm
BC: No. You're not eligible to donate at this time.
Me: Oh, OK. Thank you! Goodbye.

I think that closes that conversation for at least another six months.