The first time in my life today-I entered a bloodmobile.
It’s kind of a crazy funny sad sort of story.
Crazy funny? My son is like I was when driving trucks long distance-a stickler for keeping everything on his motor vehicles in order. Last night on his drive down to Florida he encountered a serious rain storm-the same thunderstorm that came through here last night,and something showed up on his ‘check engine’ signal on the dash…so,we ended up at a dealership.
They came by to get me earlier in the day-but the objective was to get the truck looked at to determine why the ‘check engine’ light was on. Crazy? Well…my son comes down from South Carolina-and we spend the day in a dealership! I’m in Florida. Being sincere-my son has a passion fo his vehicles…and I understand that. He gets it from me.
In front of the dealership was a bloodmobile. They always set up doing those promo’s with T-shirts or a free hot-dog,there was one here today-same deal,donate and we’ll give you a Tshirt and an over cooked dog.
I have to confess. I’ve had a few beers. I wish I was dead…but the beers will help,some. It just happens-today upset me,and I want to be numb.
I never donated blood in my life-nor have I been in one of those buses to see what they were like. Well…my life? No,that’s not exactly true-once,yes,in boot camp-we all donated blood…but what I mean is-never since!
So-we are all in the waiting room and the woman from the bloodmobile comes in-we were waiting for my sons truck to get checked over….so,there is a request for blood donations and my sons wife and I decide to do it.
There is an interview that takes place-I was not aware,but we went on with it-the young lady from the bloodmobile and I. Questions were asked-many that made sense.
Then the question about-had I been a victim of sexual assault?
Yes-I said yes!
The young lady giving the interview was taken aback by my honesty-but after she regained her composure-she said I was not able to donate blood. That was determined because my assailants were males-and I was raped ( penetration)….not female.
I believed the young lady-her sympathy. She seemed to tear up as she was rejecting me. Outside-as I re-entered the main section of the converted bus,the other ‘workers’ looked at me because my interview was a tad shorter then they expected…and I explained “I am sexual assault survivor”! One of the workers laughed out loud-the others chuckled….chuckles like back in barracks D….they did so until they realized the truth.
Funny damned thing…even being able to do something lifesaving,and I am denied!
I did nothing wrong…yet it still punishes me! Another thing stolen from me.
Tags: bloodmobile, Gainesvile Florida blood bank, gainesville florida, male rape, re-victimized
a males life after rape 
February 26, 2008 at 12:47 am |
Oh my goodness Jay. Argh!!
Laughed? Why would they laugh? Had I said it there would have been no laughter. They laughed because they were not use to hearing a male say it. Still, wrong on every, single solitary level. I’m so sorry Jay. My goodness.
It’s times like this that really begin to get to me, when things seem to still be taken away, when I’m still paying the price for a debt I never owed. Anger and bitterness can easily result from this. Anger works for you but bitterness works against you. Please, don’t go down the bitter road. We need you around here to tell your story, to get the word out and let other male survivors know they are not alone. This whole survivor thing wasn’t your destiny. It wasn’t supposed to happen. It so was not supposed to happen. I hope though by staying alive, by staying focused on your healing you’ll be able to give to others what you want to give instead of these experiences constantly taking away from you.
we wish you peace of mind,
Austin
February 27, 2008 at 12:05 pm |
That’s a horrible situation to have been subjected to, made worse because of course as you say – you’re paying the price for something you didn’t ask for.