Anasazi Foundation - The Making of a Walking

"Within every child is a seed of greatness." -Ezekiel C. Sanchez

Created by: Seth Adam Smith, former Anasazi Trail Walker

Photo of the Day

Harvest Sunset

Photo by: Rachel Gillmore
Date: October 23, 2008
Note: Please disregard the power lines

The Closest I've Come

I hesitate writing this post in concern for those out there who are playing with the idea of donating plasma or blood. I don't want to scare them. So, I add a disclaimer to this post. In my many, many, many times of donating plasma, situations - that you will soon read about - of the like have only happened a hand full of times.

Read on.

Each time I plan on donating plasma I take the proper measures beforehand in order to be accepted to donate. That includes drinking enough water and eating the right kinds of food to have enough protein in my system as well as to produce good, useful plasma. There are occasions where I have been declined to donate because I haven't had enough water to drink. There was even one instance where they declined me because I was too hydrated! Imagine that. Anyway, I took the proper measures before going into donate this afternoon. Drank plenty of water (but not too much) and ate a good meal before going. I was accepted!

I always have a little bit of fear, nervousness, or anxiety (take your pick) when my name is called to start the whole process of donating after I've gone through the screening process. This fear, nervousness, or anxiety comes because the person who has the needle only has one chance with me to get it in my arm right, without fishing around for my vein, or I start to get nauseous, lose color in my face, go lightheaded, and start to sweat - in other words, start to pass out.

Today's experience was a little different than the ones I've had in the past where they failed to make contact with my vein on their first attempt. The guy who stuck me got the needle into my vein but how ever he did it was very painful (I don't watch when they stab me). I knew that something wasn't right, but everything ran just fine as the machine began sucking the blood out of me, even though I was still in pain. I tried to brush my anxiety away telling myself that the pain will go away and everything will run smoothly.

I was able to do that as I got caught up in the novel I had brought with me to read. The pain eventually did fade for the most part after a cycle or two had passed. Once I thought I was in the clear I began feeling quite uncomfortable again. I could feel my vein begin to pulse back and forth in my where the arm cuff was inflated tightly around my upper arm. It felt like the ticking of a second-hand on a clock - tick...tick...tick. I did my best to remain calm, but when my whole arm quickly went from a tingling sensation to numbness and I began to feel the onset of nauseousness set in I knew I was in trouble.

Luckily, rather a tender mercy and blessing, there was an phlebotomist chatting with the girl in the bed next to me. I quickly got her attention. As soon as she looked at me she knew something was wrong because my face had gone completely white. The nauseating feeling got worse by the second. First light headedness, to feeling like I was going to throw up, then to a quick rise in my temperature causing me to sweat all over, and then to a tingling sensation in both my arms, legs, and lips. They quickly put a trash can next to me in case I lost the tasty sandwich I had before going into the plasma center. (I plead that I wouldn't!). Then they stopped the machine from drawing blood and started putting blood back into my body. In the process of blood returning to my body, which felt like an eternity, I did my best to deal with my body's reaction. I closed my eyes in an attempt to stop the dizziness and nauseating feeling, but was told I needed to keep them open so they could tell if I fainted. When I opened my eyes I soon found that the room was getting darker and my hearing was fading. I had never experienced this before. Finding it quite alarming I informed the now two phlebotomists that were at my side of my condition. The girl kindly informed me that that is what happens right before you are about to pass out or faint. WHAT!?! The girl quickly turned the speed up on the machine in order to return the blood back to my body faster, while the other phlebotomist put an ice pack under my neck. That ice pack was so blessed!

Slowly but surely and one at a time the symptoms began to disappear. The tingling in my lips, arms, and legs diminished, my temperature began to decrease with aid from the ice pack, color returned to my face, and ever so slowly the nauseating feeling reduced to only a slight lingering. I was so grateful I didn't faint! But that was by far the closest I have ever come to fainting.

When I felt well enough and after drinking 8oz. of water they started the machine up again to finish the last one and a half cycles I had left. Despite the lingering nauseous feeling the rest of the donating process went smoothly. When finished I took my time to stand up and slowly walk to the waiting area to get paid. While waiting to get paid I watched others who were donating nearby. As my eyes crossed over one of the exit doors it swung open and I saw a group of phlebotomist huddled together. Before the door closed I saw through the spaces between their legs somebody lying on the floor. It was quickly apparent that this person had fainted. I walked through those doors to exit and sure enough a girl who had donated for her first time had fainted and was being cared for. As I passed the room she was in and peered in I could tell she was scared as she wiped tears from her eyes. I was grateful that I wasn't her and then I said of prayer for her as I continued to carefully exit the building.

After arriving home I made sure to replenish my body of water and nutrience, but the lingering nauseous feeling continued to stay with me. I could really feel the weakness in my body when only after being at work for an hour I was exhausted and dragging my feet. Continuing to drink lots of water I eventually was reengergized and back to my normal self. What a great feeling that is!

Now even though this is a very descriptive account of what happened to me the worst of it only lasted a short amount of time. I am ok. I didn't die. I hope I didn't scare any of you off!

Additional Photos!

A while ago I said that I would upload the pictures that I didn't post on my blog onto Photobucket for all of you who would like to see additional pictures. I have finally done so. Below is the link to my Photobucket. After opening up the page you will see on the left hand side of the page a list of albums. Those are where you will find the additional pictures. Browse all you want! The most recent albums added are, Utah Adventures and Table Rock.

Photobucket, click here.

For future reference, I have also added a link on the ride hand side of my blog under the category Outside Links. This is the same link as above. Enjoy!

Skipped Right On By

This past year has been a very different year weather wise for Idaho. We had a very cold and very long winter. It felt like it went on forever. Finally there was a break in the winter weather in June where we had one week of spring weather before it jumped right into the summer. I didn't mind that too much because I love summertime!

The summer was short and went by quickly. I was not looking forward to the colder temperatures, but when seeing the color of the leaves changing I began to soften my heart towards fall weather - not too cold and beautiful! But fall has mirrored it's opposite season of spring and has only last a very short amount of time, thus throwing us into the bitter cold of winter weather. Winter for Idaho means snow and freezing temperatures and we have already received our first blanket of snow. I am still in shock and disbelief.

Since I don't see much of the day during the weekends because I'm usually sleeping, this shot of my truck was taken after the first fall of snow after getting off work before coming home. It is now dark when I arrive at work at 7pm and it is dark leaving work at 7am.

Each year I have noticed an increase in my dislike and discomfort of cold weather. (Maybe being stuck in Idaho is a way for the Lord to humble me). I do think that the snow is beautiful! I especially love snow on branches of pine trees or fields of untouched snow. In my own perfect world I would love to have all the seasons, each with their own splendid qualities and attributes, but without the cold. Only in my dreams...

Utah Adventures!

I had the great opportunity to spend five wonderful days in Utah with my family last week. We were able to spend some quality time together before dropping my brother Ben off at the Missionary Training Center where he would embark on his new journey as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in the Guadalajara South, Mexico mission.

The week was full of wonderful and fun adventures. Instead of making one huge long post I have broken up the week highlighting the main and exciting things that we did. Looking back there isn’t one thing that I would change. It was just so great to be with my family and spend such quality time with them. I really needed it and am grateful that my schedule permitted me to spend as much time with them as I did! I love my family!