Hype around blood donation

Hype Around Blood Donation

Last weekend had our inboxes filled with awareness messages about donating blood as World Blood Donation Day falls on 14th June 2020. This must-have raised the question in many minds as to 'why is such a day given so much importance even during the pandemic times?'. The silent disapproval for donating blood has been around for generations and hence, we have to go on a journey through generations for answering the above question.

People now above the 80s were very sacred of blood donation, owning to the lack of awareness and superstitions. They were not sure if this practice was allowed in a religious context. It was predominant to avoid surgeries that needed a blood transfusion as they could never agree to any unknown person's blood running through their veins. Their generation can be spared as they did not get to see many accidents, medical technologies and the need that we have now. We don't have to worry about their fears in this aspect just as long as they do not require blood anytime (That would lead to a big drama during stressful times).

The direct contrast to the 80+ is the youth of India. These are people working day and night without having a break to move even from their chairs. The ladies of this group have started being obsessed with being thin (not zero figure, but the border case of being thin). Men and women are careful to keep their skins flawless and handsome/ beautiful, but not as careful to take care of their health (avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, eating right and healthy). You can listen to most of them stating - 'we need blood, how can we donate!'.

The middle group in 40 to 60s are normally in the mindset that donating blood will lead to a person becoming weak. Many in this generation also encourage the younger ones to donate. I took an oath to keep myself healthy as I watched my father donate blood number of times. Unfortunately, I have also seen cases where the parents tore the certificates of their children who donated blood for the first time.

Honestly speaking, to go to a blood donation camp and getting out for reasons like being underweight, not having healthy, nutritious food is like failing an exam even before attempting it. It feels good (let's be slightly selfish here) when we are healthy enough to donate blood.

False messages, stating that a lot of the donated blood is thrown away by medical facilities are also in rounds on social media. The fact though is, only the units found to have any disease or issue is thrown away. No blood bank has an excess of the lifeline in need to throw units away without a cause.

In this present pandemic condition, blood banks have seen a fall in voluntary and replacement donations. Further, blood donation camps cannot be held in the current situation. Although all elective surgeries have been postponed, those in routine requirement of blood (Thalassemia, Haemophilia, oncology patients and accident victims) require blood. Hence, the demand is never going to decrease.

From our side, we can check the organization that is collecting the blood, its authentication and hygiene. Giving up the idea of donating blood be it for any superficial reason is not something to pat ourself for. We all know stories where a person/ young child could have survived if they had got the required blood within the time. For all we know, they can survive years ahead and be a part of making a good future. We can also make ourself feel worthy and good by donating something that doesn't cost us anything.

Care stored by our grandparents

It was her 95th birthday when I got the news that my grandma passed away. Known for her will-power and the way she brought together and held a family of seven with ease and sternness, to have seen three generations and to have spread her knowledge with ease to not the second but the third generation.

 I never had much of memory with my grandpa, for I was a toddler when he reached god. I know I loved him a lot and I feel confident about it thanks to the stories my sister and parents tell me. While my other grandpa, unlike with the other three grand-children didn't spend his time bringing me up but, he alone treated me like the princess of the family. I have always felt both these men were the perfect inspiration for me, and never did once I believe anyone telling me that they used to get quite angry and would punish people when they do something wrong.

Though I know none of them where immortals, I always wish they were as I tend to miss them. It is the love and knowledge that the current generation kids miss when they are left in a crutch and not with their grandparents. 

 Spending ample time with grandparents is very important in a child's life for grandparents turn out to be your best friends, guides, philosophers, teacher, and emotion partner (you can't discuss everything with your parents or siblings. The best part, as grandparents they get very lenient even though they were very strict to their children).

When I was a toddler, my parents say I used to sit with my thatha whole day and sleep on him during the nights. Whatever my pati used to give me, I used to go show it to thatha and share the snacks with him. He used to teach me slokas and there were times when I used to wait for him to complete his morning prayers just so I can lay my hands on the bananas. Pati used to shout from the kitchen asking him to complete it quickly for I was waiting. He used to only smile and give me the fruit even before his prayers were over.

Both my Grandmas were brilliant cooks, both of them where brilliant debaters too. The most fight in the house will be between me and my grandma. It would normally start with  a T.V serial, while I hate them, she passes her time with them. After a long discussion and remote moving hand to hand a lot of times, she would either land up watching a cartoon with me (shows which needs no language), or I would sleep through her serial.

Everyone at home knew not to take these fights serious for we were also the best of buddies. Where-ever she went shopping, she used to look for a dress even to me. She used to give to me and when I wear the old ones she gave, she used to tell everyone, look at her, she keeps all that I give her very safe and she never tells a no to what I give, look how beautiful she looks!!!

I never learnt my mother tongue properly(I speak Tamil, but take an hour to read a page), she used to read the newspaper even till the mere six months back without her specs. I used to then take it from her and in the name of improving my skills, try reading for her. While my mom gets really annoyed listening to it, my pati never got tired.

Pati at the age her 90's would sneak into the kitchen, call my mom for help and do a lot of snacks for me and my sister that would last a month. She would keep adding the snack rack with a different new snack every alternate day. She would also be right there during the festivals to direct us and teach us how to go about it traditionally and also to do it right while also enjoy doing so.

If this is the story of one, my other grandma, even now feed those she cares so much that they won't be able to move from the dining table. Her chapatti's made from milk and not oil used to be light, soft and would not just fill a person's stomach but also their hearts. Her spend all her time pampering and taking care of my cousins day and night however old they grow.

For my grandpa, the four of us (his grandchildren) would fill our hands and frock with flowers from the garden for his daily pooja. Cone Ice-creams were the sole reason for praying god that my grandma must miss something in the shopping list from we can go to the shop with him again the next day. He used to wrap our school books, label them when we were in school.

It still gets funny when my sister tells the three of us how when he keeps me on his laps, my two cousins, wherever they were, would come crawling in all the speed they can to sit on his lap with me! God knows how he even grabbed a bit of sleep with all the three kids (me and my cousins) slept around him.

He used to narrate the Ramayana and Mahabharata for us, and best of all, teach our school science subjects. Being a chemistry professor, I somehow feel, the marks in my boards in that subject was half his blessings!

Grand-parents are what a child needs to turn out to be a happy, stress-free, innocent champ. They will be ready to fight with their children when our parents scold us or beat us. That by any chance doesn't mean they let the kid do whatever it wants, but they know always know a better way to tell the child what is wrong.