We're Really Doing It to Save Lives

What I Told Brian About Donating Platelets

"It's definitely not any more painful than donating blood. They even give you your blood back, so you won't even think you're missing anything."

"You get three free movie tickets! Three! And if we both donate we get six! We can go watch THREE movies together!"

"You just sit in this media center and watch movies or go online while you're donating. It's just like being in your living room. It's really fun. They have great movies."

"You get free cookies and juice at the end."

"And stickers."

What the Blood Center People Told Me

"I'm sorry, we're going to have to defer you. Your platelet count is too low."

What the Blood Center People Told Brian

"Come on in."

What I Told Brian at the Blood Center

"Well then can I take your keys? I'm going home to take a shower and maybe do my nails."

What Brian Told Me After Donating Platelets

"You didn't tell me that when they give you your blood back, it's COLD. And it hurts. I wish they had just kept the blood too."

"I got three movie tickets and you didn't get any. We can only go see one and a half movies."

"Media center??? What did you mean by media center?? Because all I got was a chair and a tv monitor. You made it sound futuristic, like a pod. And I watched 'Get Him to the Greek'. I only laughed once. I think it was at P. Diddy but I don't remember."

"I ate two cookies and drank three juices but I'm still thirsty."

"I got you a sticker that says 'Be Nice to Me, I Tried to Donate Blood Today'."

Things Brian's Doctor Told Him a Week Later When His 3 Day Fever Wouldn't Go Away

"Well, you don't have strep throat... but for some reason your platelet count is low."