Several months ago a new company started advertising in our small Southern Utah town of St. George. They were offering to pay up to $50 (tax free) a week for plasma donations.
My immediate thought was WOW! A couple could earn an extra $400/month or $2600/year. That is more than enough to get them started and keep them active in most any network marketing company.
Having never donated myself, I had images of a bunch of drug addicts, anxious for their next fix, congregating in some dingy room with tubes in their arms. Yet, if it could get a person started in dramatically changing their life… it would be well worth it.
I decided that before I asked anyone else to consider that as an option, I needed to do it myself for at least a month. Boy was I in for a surprise.
I asked Linda if she wanted to join me in this adventure. She was reluctant, until she talked with our son who is a nurse. He shared that plasma is desperately needed in saving the lives of the patients he cares for and is also needed to treat burn victims and those with hemophilia. Medical researchers need it to find new cures and treatments for a variety of medical conditions. He urged her to take the time to donate, regardless of the money.
The adventure started by taking the following steps:1- Calling the donation center to make an appointment . You need to have a physical and some blood test done before you donate. The physical is free and done at the center. They do this to ensure that you don’t have any serious health issues or diseases like HIV or hepatitis. You need to be at least 18 years of age and over 110 lbs.
2- The first visit is always the longest and will last between 2-3 hours, the following just over an hour. I always plan on 1 ½ hours.
At this visit I learned that:
a. The donation center was a very clean and well lit facility, full of very friendly professional people taking and giving plasma.
b. They give an additional bonus payment for this initial visit and also give bonuses for referring others who qualify to donate. Our center gives $10 extra.
c. You have to wait at least 48 hours between visits and can donate blood plasma twice a week max. That meant I could earn a maximum of $50 a week from donating but unlimited referral fees of $10 each.
d. Certain factors can disqualify you immediately, like
- Recent illness, recent tattoo or acupuncture treatment.
- Diseases affecting the blood or immune system and certain prescription drugs, as well as illegal drugs.
- One of my referral s was disqualified because of a heart attack and another for being 75 years old.
- They ask detailed questions about your sexual activities such as: “Have you had sex for money or drugs or sex with someone that has?” or “Have you had sex with a man who has had sex with a man in the last 100 :) years?”.
3- The process was surprisingly quite painless and worthwhile in spite of my personal needle phobias. The worst part for me is getting my finger stuck for a blood sample each time. I feel good about getting my weight, blood pressure, blood iron and lipids checked twice a week for free.
4- Here are a few Tips to make your adventure as enjoyable as possible:
- It’s important to drink plenty of fluids before and after your donation. The process of removing blood plasma can dehydrate you. Drinking fluids will prevent you from getting some of the symptoms associated with dehydration like headaches, dizziness, and nausea. While the symptoms are only temporary, they are uncomfortable none the less… so stay hydrated.
- Take a book, magazine, mp3 or DVD player, cell phone or your computer to make the time pass quickly. I’m now really proficient in one hand typing. In fact, I typed this while I was hooked up donating.
- If you get cold easily, make sure to take a blanket.
- Go to the bathroom before they hook you up.
- Don’t eat anything fatty the night before you donate or your lipids will be to high.
- Don’t drink anything cold ½ hour before donating or your temperature will be too low.
- Have a fun time interacting and building friendships with the staff and other donors... you don’t want someone that is depressed or angry sticking a needle in your arm.
I hope this article motivates you to start donating weekly for whatever reason.
BTW: Not only did I make it easily through my one month commitment, I have been donating regularly since March of 2008. I actually look forward the time as I always have plenty of work to do on the computer, seminars to listen too or calls to catch up on.
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In his first dozen years in MLM or Network Marketing, Steve Stay experienced what most people would call "total failure" and give them every reason they needed to give up the dream. But that wasn't part of Steve's script as one fateful day a shift happened inside him and the way he experienced the MLM industry dramatically shifted as well. Within three months he was a top earner in the industry. Discover more about Steve's honest take on his 36+ year personal MLM journey at: http://stevestay.blogspot.com/2009/01/steve-stays-mlm-story.html
