Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest Share on Linkedin Share on Tumblr There was a time when I was a regular blood donor. Every other month, I would make my way to the local blood center, roll up my sleeve, and give a pint of A-positive. It was a small thing, but it made me feel good to know I was doing something that had lifesaving potential. But then things started to go awry. As my eating disorder gradually took over my life, I found myself thinking of my periodic blood donations as an excuse to binge. After all, I reasoned, a pint of blood represents hundreds of calories, so why not take advantage of the situation? Over time, I added more and more weight, until one day the bloodmobile workers told me I could not donate. My blood pressure was too high. I started to keep track and realized it was consistently high. I knew my weight was a major contributing factor, but I did nothing. Then came a day I had a cold. I took an over-the-counter cold remedy, and my blood pressure shot up. I felt horrid and rushed to the doctor’s office. My blood pressure was so high I was almost sent to the hospital. I was treated and told to lose weight. I had been in and out of OA for years, never achieving long-term abstinence. But after that episode I began to realize that my health and even my life were at stake. I started attending meetings regularly, and I finally secured a sponsor. I started working the Steps, lost 35 pounds (16 kg), and became abstinent. Eighteen months after becoming abstinent, I tried again to give blood. After all the preliminaries were done, I was delighted to hear I could indeed donate. And so I did . . . not to allow for a binge, but instead to give a small gift which might help save a life, even as OA is helping to save mine, one day and one donation at a time! —John D., Fort Myers, Florida USA
