What a long day

Yesterday I had a leadership training meeting and had to teach the YW leaders from our stake, I was already nervous about that, but I also found the courage to donate blood. Our stake here has a blood drive every 6 months or so, and it's always on the days we have these leadership training meetings, but I never dared myself to do it. I'm not afraid of needles, it's just the amount of blood they take that kinda freaks me out. Anyway, luckily I had the gift of tongues that day and my Spanish was pretty good so the meeting went very well. After the meeting was over, all the phlebotomists were out for lunch so we had to wait about an hour for the next round of people to go through. I had only eaten cereal for breakfast and I had to skip lunch cause I wasn't home. Luckily the relief society meeting had fruit and sweet bread so I was able to munch on that before I donated, but apparently that wasn't enough food. First of all when the nurse was finally able to get the needle in, my blood was coming out really slow, so she had to lower the bag to help the blood flow, I was doing pretty good, my bag was full and I was excited to be finished. The nurse then asked me if I was feeling ok and I said yes, she then asked if I was sure because I had lost all color in my face. I was completely pale and a friend was right next to me doing the same thing and she looked at me like I was dying or something. Then I felt it, my head started spinning and the nurse raised my legs and tilted my chair back. She said I needed to cough so the blood would go back to my head. I ended up hurting my throat cause I was coughing so much. They immediatley gave me some liquids and food so I could feel better and regain some energy. I had to lay there for about 15 minutes before I could stand. When I stood up I still felt a little shaky but I shoved as much liquid and food down my throat as I possibly could. It was so embarrassing, I also drove there by myself so my friend Denise had to call her husband so they can follow me home, just in case I started to feel dizzy again. When I got home it felt like I had just ran a race, I was so tired and weak and just crashed on my couch. I think I slept for 2 or 3 hours. I don't know if I ever want to do that again, but I hope this experience is able to save a life.