Jumbo, the elephant walked out merrily one morning. While on his way, Leelu, the kangaroo met him and asked, “What is the matter Dadu? You seem very happy. Where are you going?”
“I am going to the grounds for the camp,” told Jumbo.
“Which camp?”
“Blood donation camp,” said Jumbo, as he walked away.
“Blood donation camp!” Leelu was excited. “I will go and see for myself whether Jumbo Dadu is really donating blood or not?” Leelu skipped and hopped towards the grounds. Damru, the donkey saw her on the way and asked, “Leelu, where are you going early in the morning?”
“I am going to the blood donation camp. You can come along if you want.” As soon as he heard this, Damru joined Leelu.
When Jumpy, the monkey saw them, he inquired, “Where are both of you going this morning?”
“We are going to the blood donation camp.” Damru shared. Jumpy laughed and asked, “Are you going to take blood or give it?” Damru’s face fell.
Jumpy spread the news to his friends. Some laughed, while others made fun. When Blacky, the bear heard it, he became serious and said in anger, “When this small lanky Damru can donate blood, why can’t we?”
“Blacky is right.” Geetu, the rhinoceros said. “We should go there too,” said Geetu and both of them walked to the camp. There was a big crowd outside. All the animals, whether small, fat, thin or lean were standing in a queue.
Leelu and Damru soon got a chance to enter. Blacky and Geetu were upset about seeing them go in.
“Big animals like us are standing out, while that tiny Damru is inside.” The two charged in elbowing aside others in the queue. Inside they saw Damru and Leelu talking to Mili, a member of the camp.
“Can we donate blood too?” asked Damru.
“Yes, why not! If all tests are clear you can easily donate blood. By giving blood you maintain good health. You will also come to know how healthy your body is,” Mili explained.
“There is no problem in donating blood?” questioned a scared Damru.
“There is no need to worry if your body is healthy. Besides we take blood from a healthy person only. Blood is not taken from a weak body. We take only one unit of blood which is produced again in two days. There is no discomfort to the donor,” Mili said with a smile.
“Can the donated blood be given to anyone?” Damru inquired.
“Yes! Only to them whose blood group matches the donor,” Mili replied. “Blood group?” he asked.
“Yes. Blood also has groups. They are of four types.” Mili explained.
“I think I have heard about them. Perhaps there are four groups. ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘AB’ and ‘O”, “Damru said thoughtfully.
Mili smiled and glanced at the place where the blood tests were being conducted. A few people were waiting there. She looked at her watch and said, “Come I will show you. You are right. There are four types of groups-A’, ‘B’, AB’ and ‘O’. ‘AB’ is the only blood group which accepts blood from any group, but can give blood only to someone with “AB”. Therefore, it is called the universal acceptor.
“Like our Jumbo Dada who eats everyone’s lunch, but does not give anyone,” Leelu said and all three laughed.
Mili continued, “O’blood group is just the opposite of AB’. It can give blood to anyone, but cannot accept blood from any group. A patient with ‘O’blood group needs blood from ‘O’only.”
“Then this blood group must be very useful. It can help anyone.” They said.
“Yes! That is why it is called the ‘Universal Donor’. No special condition is required for other groups. ‘A’ blood group can take blood from ‘O’or ‘A’ and give to ‘A’ and AB”. Similarly ‘B’ blood group can take from ‘B’ or ‘O’ blood group and be given to ‘B’ or ‘AB’. Therefore the blood group is checked first. Once the blood is collected, it is stored safely and can be used anytime. Now I am taking your blood sample for the test. Do not be afraid,” said Mili and brought the needle near Damru’s finger.
As soon as she did this Blacky, immediately rushed and said, “I will donate blood first, then this tiny one.”
“Okay brother you can get it done first,” said Damru as he stepped aside.
Mili took Blacky’s blood sample. It was sent for testing
First Kanny, the tortoise put the blood sample in a liquid. Within minutes the blood went down, formed a ball and rose up.
She said, “If this comes up in the form of a ball, then the hemoglobin is alright, and if it stays at the bottom then it is less.”
Then she performed three more tests, and then said, “Everything is fine. Get your Blood Pressure checked”.
“Why do I have to check that? It must be alright too. Don’t you see how healthy and strong I am?” murmured Blacky. Then he got his BP checked.
“Your blood pressure is very high therefore you cannot donate blood. Only those who have normal blood pressure can donate blood. It should be 120-90,” Sikku, the fox, a worker at the camp explained to Blacky.
Blacky was staring at her in astonishment. He could not believe that someone as healthy and strong as he could not donate blood. He went and sat in a corner crestfallen. By now Damru’s blood sample was taken and the tests were conducted.
“Everything is normal,” informed Mili and asked for the BP checkup.
Sikku checked and said, “Your blood pressure is normal 120-90. You can donate blood.”
“What if the pressure was low?” Damru asked.
“It would be an issue, as pressure too high or low is not good,” Sikku explained.
“Then there is no problem if I donate blood.”
“No! No! There is no problem. You are absolutely healthy. Go ahead,” said Sikku.
Damru went eagerly towards the bed. Blacky was watching all this with a downcast face.
“Blacky why are you sad? Damru is absolutely fit though he is thin. If you are fat doesn’t mean you are healthy,” said Mili.
Geetu saw Blacky’s fallen face and said, “Forget it! Instead of growing fat, we should look after our health. We should become healthy and strong like Damru. Look he is donating blood. We came here for the sake of our pride, but he had come to help the needy. We should also think similarly.”
Blacky looked at Damru. He went up to Damru and said, “Friend you are doing a very noble thing. We should all come forward to do this without fear. Please forgive me. I tried to trouble you for no rhyme or reason.”
Blacky said this and went out of the camp. Damru heaved a sigh of relief. He was happy for doing a good deed, as well as for bringing about a change in Blacky’s thinking.
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