In years past I was a regular donor. Almost 4 gallons. It felt good to be helping others in need and it made me fell physically better.
Then the wheels turned and Mad Cow came around and because I had spent more than 6 months in a particular country I was deemed a possible carrier of spongiform encephalopathy was told I couldn't donate any more.
I fought it for a while and was as irritated as you are now but have gotten over it.
Their initial charter with blood donation was admirable, but now they dont care about helping others. Plain and simple. Its all about the $$$$.
So.... They dont get my blood (AB-) and they cant have any of my organs either.
"I told the lady at the reception desk "no". She gave me this blank look like it was a word she was completely unfamiliar with,
I think you may have spotted part of the problem with todays society.
I was a regular blood donor (rare type BTW) before & after 9-11-01. Ate my first Chick Fil-A with a coupon the Red Cross gave me for my 9-11 donation.
That was long AFTER I had been stationed in Germany 1981-83.
Been disqualified for years now due to `mad cow exposure’. Sucks.