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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:06 PM
Original message
Any other blood donors out there? Take a bow!!
I just gave my 4th white cell donation in two weeks and am feeling pretty wiped. They told me it is going for a baby post bone marrow recovery. I also gave a couple pre transplant donations for the baby.
So I am wiped out, but feel kind of like a small hero. I don't want any praise, just doing a good deed is enough, but I thought maybe the DU blood donors could use a bit of a hand for being quiet heroes behind the scenes.
I've been giving for about 38 years now. Have o-neg blood and some special white cell component that those blood-suckers love. I think they'll keep me alive just for the blood.
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LeftyMom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:09 PM
Response to Original message
1. I donate whole blood
since that's what the center here prefers from O+ donors. I'm an HLA donor, so my blood is sometimes requested and given specifically for cancer patients and others who become sensitized to donations that are just thier own blood type and need closely matched blood.
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:11 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. Thank you so much!
:toast:
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HarukaTheTrophyWife Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:10 PM
Response to Original message
2. I don't think I'm allowed to donate blood.
I had mono and I'm underweight half the time.
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:13 PM
Response to Reply #2
4. Yes - there are very strict guidelines on who can give
for good reason.
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HarukaTheTrophyWife Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:16 PM
Response to Reply #4
8. I am an organ donor though.
My dad had a kidney transplant when I was 16, so I feel I owe it. I also donated my Mercury Sable to the kidney foundation.
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:20 PM
Response to Reply #8
12. Kids learn from their parents by example
Since your Dad needed a bit of help, you learn to step up! Good job! Got a heart you can give Bush?
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blondeatlast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 09:39 PM
Response to Reply #2
45. As a recpient, I'm happy to accept the will for the deed.
In this case, the thought counts as well.
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eyepaddle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:13 PM
Response to Original message
5. It's been a few months, but I have
donated several times. I had to take a few years off after traveling through the (non-malarial) tropics. I'm back in biz-ness now though.
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:16 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. Another quiet hero! Thank you
:bounce:
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YankeyMCC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:15 PM
Response to Original message
6. I donate every 8 weeks pretty much
and I do a platelet donation a couple times a year.

Thanks to you for your donations.
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:18 PM
Response to Reply #6
9. Thank you, YankeyMCC!
every couple months like clockwork! Another quiet hero!:o
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sakabatou Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:18 PM
Response to Original message
10. I donate whole blood
I also have the third rarest bloodtype.
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:23 PM
Response to Reply #10
13. Way to go! Not so rare that you can't share!
O8)
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sakabatou Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:28 PM
Response to Reply #13
17. AB- without some antigen is the rarest
Then with the antigen
Then AB+ without the antigen and so on and so forth
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:32 PM
Response to Reply #17
20. My gift is that I am a universal donor
but we (O neg) can only get from other O negs. Fortunately my next door neighbor is O neg.
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marigold20 Donating Member (802 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:19 PM
Response to Original message
11. Going in on Monday
I should do platelets sometime, but so far, just whole blood. I use it as an excuse to pig out all day - I need to build up my strength - heh heh.
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:24 PM
Response to Reply #11
15. I do the same - donate early so I can pig out all day
:evilgrin:
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CaliforniaPeggy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:23 PM
Response to Original message
14. My dear rurallib.......
I have given blood several times....

But now I give my platelets on a regular basis....monthly.

I am recently retired from the Red Cross, the platelet department...

It is a very worth-while effort, any sort of blood donation....

Thank you for all you do!
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:29 PM
Response to Reply #14
18. And thank you! Those platelets go a long, long ways
Sometimes when I am in a crowd I wonder if anyone in the crowd has a bit of my blood in them? Whole blood led to platelets about 6years ago (they had a hard time crossing me over cause they always wanted my blood). Platelets led right to white cells. Seems like once or twice a year I get a streak of white cell donation. Had a three donation in a week last year and spent day 8 in bed.
Often wonder how a woman can donate and menstrate? Not trying to be funny, seems like it would really drain them?
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Ediacara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:24 PM
Response to Original message
16. I would be
But.... there's still one rather major hurdle for no scientific reason.
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:30 PM
Response to Reply #16
19. Ah yes. Someday reason should prevail, I hope.
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Ediacara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:50 PM
Response to Reply #19
33. I certainly hope so
Back in highschool, before the non-scientific reason happened, I gave blood quite regularly.
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blondeatlast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 09:40 PM
Response to Reply #16
47. As a reipient, it pisses me off as well, but as I said upthread,
I'll take the will for the deed.

:hug:
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Mutley Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:35 PM
Response to Original message
21. Yes, when I can manage it.
:hug:
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:37 PM
Response to Reply #21
22. Thank you also!
Did you ever wonder if free beer coupons would raise participation?
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Mutley Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:38 PM
Response to Reply #22
25. Lol, maybe.
But I'm not if you want to sort of people who care all that much about beer coupons donating blood.
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auntAgonist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:37 PM
Response to Original message
23. I donated regularly for years
but now my hemoglobin is below normal so I'm not able to. Once my blood levels are back to where they should be AND my Dr says I can again, I will.

I do it for the cookies and orange juice hehe

:hug:

aA
kesha
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:43 PM
Response to Reply #23
28. I am guessing by your name you are female
which brings me back to my earlier question - how can females donate and menstrate? must be hard.
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auntAgonist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 09:22 PM
Response to Reply #28
38. I never actually thought of it.
It never bothered me at all. Up until now I donated regardless of the 'time of month'.

Just right now, I'm not able to donate till I get the Dr's ok.

:hi:

aA
definitely female :woohoo:

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xmas74 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 10:48 PM
Response to Reply #28
54. Before my anemia got worse
I donated while on my menses. If the iron levels are normal they don't seem to have a problem-at least they didn't used to.

Besides, you lose more blood through donation then during your period.
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tinfoilinfor2005 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:38 PM
Response to Original message
24. My blood type is B with D antibodies.
One year they sent a car out to my house because I was a regular donor and they really needed this blood type. I figured right then and there that I must have royal blood. Just goes to show, every one of us is special to someone else who wants to live. Thanks for passing on this message. Make the time and give blood.
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:45 PM
Response to Reply #24
29. Yes, If I have a cold I get a call every couple days to see how I am doing
I try to tell my wife that some one cares and she says go live there. And thus am I humbled again.
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tinfoilinfor2005 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 09:44 PM
Response to Reply #29
49. Darn those wives...
No respect at all. She would never hit it off with old Warren Jeffs. :)
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MissMillie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:40 PM
Response to Original message
26. I haven't been able to for a long time
I've had major surgery every year for the past 3 years.
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:41 PM
Response to Reply #26
27. But you were a donor once so thank you!
:toast:
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auntAgonist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 09:23 PM
Response to Reply #26
39. Hiya Miss M!!
:hug: I've not seen you in a while. I hope you're doing well!

aA
kesha

:hug:
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DS1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:47 PM
Response to Original message
30. I used to. It was never a big deal. Now I can't because *gasp*
I've set foot in England since 1980. Idiots.
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:50 PM
Response to Reply #30
32. Yeah, that's one I never understood.
Does it turn a person into a twit or something? Thanks for your earlier donations.
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DS1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:52 PM
Response to Reply #32
34. Are they going to backtrack all the donations I have made?
Sure, I would hope they'd have expired by now if not used, but still..
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:54 PM
Response to Reply #34
35. All recipients have already been elected.
We just don't want any more.
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DS1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:55 PM
Response to Reply #35
36. I'm not sure what you mean by that,
but I will add that I'm also now a registered marrow donor. And THEY didn't have any problem with the above criteria.
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 09:01 PM
Response to Reply #36
37. Sometimes when I get tired I say things that make no sense
except to me.
That is odd that marrow is ok but not blood. Seems like there should be no difference in criteria.
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xmas74 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 10:49 PM
Response to Reply #36
55. Same w/ my brother.
Registered for marrow donation but cannot donate blood.
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LeftyMom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 09:26 PM
Response to Reply #30
40. I don't get that one
1. We have BSE in the food supply here, Canada has it, Japan has it... Seems silly to single out England and parts of Europe at this point.

2. I asked- If I every visit Europe or the UK I can't donate for whatever the exclusion period is and a long enough visit is a lifetime bar to donation. Nevermind that I'm not about to eat a mad cow or any other cow, policy is policy even when it's stupid. :shrug:
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DS1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 09:31 PM
Response to Reply #40
41. It's a protein
It could carry back on your shoes. You don't have to actually eat it.
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LeftyMom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 09:40 PM
Response to Reply #41
46. I think you're confusing mad cow and hoof and mouth
You have to eat something contaminated with BSE prions or get infected blood or organ transplant or brain surgery with contamniated insturuments to get vCJD, the human version of mad cow. Hoof and mouth was the one that was easily transmitted from farm to farm on human shoes, clothing etc.
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DS1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 10:18 PM
Response to Reply #46
52. It's not me confusing anything with anything
I've stepped foot in England since 1980, and that stops me from donating. I don't like it anymore than you do.
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rurallib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 08:48 PM
Response to Original message
31. Thanks for standing upand taking a deserved bow!
As I said I am wiped so I am off to beddy bye.
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Aristus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 09:33 PM
Response to Original message
42. I donated like clockwork every six months until September 2001.
I went to give blood in the aftermath of the attacks, and they up and told me that Gulf War vets and any military personnel who had been stationed in Europe for more than six months were not allowed to give blood! News to me. I'd been giving blood for eight years by that point.

Told me it was because of possible Creuzfeld-Jakob exposure...

I keep checking back to see if the ban has been lifted, but as of last fall, it had not.

Damn.
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blondeatlast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 09:37 PM
Response to Original message
43. As a recipient, I can't possibly thank all of you enough.
All I really have to offer is that I'm here to share my gratitude to you all, but here's a try:

THANK YOU!



:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:
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BreweryYardRat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 09:38 PM
Response to Original message
44. Can't donate until the 31st.
Last time was in February, and I did an ALYX donation. (What's the acronym stand for, by the way?)

Think I'll stick to regular donations from now on-I got worn out much more easily after that donation than the previous two I'd done.
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Momgonepostal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 09:44 PM
Response to Original message
48. I tried today, but they cut me off...
I wasn't even halfway to a pint, but I had slowed to a trickle, so he just took me off. I hated the whole process, but then felt extra bad because I couldn't finish and they had to throw my blood away. :-(
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aQuArius Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 09:49 PM
Response to Original message
50. I've had a low Iron count lately....
but I have always donated anytime I was able. I am eating my spinach and taking Iron pills, hopefully I can get back out there and donate!!!
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Fredda Weinberg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 10:16 PM
Response to Original message
51. I found a good vampire lately
I had to quit several years ago when I developed an enormous hematoma ... went to my HMO doctor and she laughed at my pain - but the idea of traveling blood clots scared me. Last month though, they had a drive where I work and someone told me they had particularly skilled technician, so I gave her a try. She didn't even leave a bruise!

They'll be back and I'll stick to my new policy - get an endorsement first. I've got deep, difficult veins, so it seems I'm going to have to remain particular about who does the deed.
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xmas74 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat May-20-06 10:45 PM
Response to Original message
53. They kick me out all the time because of my anemia.
My brother is on permanent ban from Red Cross because of time served overseas. Until a couple of years ago he donated every 12 weeks.
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American Tragedy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-21-06 12:22 AM
Response to Original message
56. I would like to, honestly.
I've tried, but they said I was 'too petite'.

Couldn't they just take less, for those of us with lesser blood volume? Or would it just not even be worth the effort?
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CaliforniaPeggy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-21-06 12:26 AM
Response to Reply #56
57. The rules at the Red Cross state.....
that you must weigh at least 110 pounds.

I think that some hospitals will take people who weigh less, and then they take less blood volume....

You could call around, and see if this applies in your area....
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joneschick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-21-06 02:24 PM
Response to Original message
58. I've given gallons quite literally.
I'm A+ and donate whole blood and platelets regularly. My eldest daughter (18) is now a donor too. We went together one time and her iron was too low to donate so she stuffed envelopes and folded and sorted their t-shirts while I finished.
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NNadir Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-21-06 02:42 PM
Response to Original message
59. I love giving blood. The questionaire is so much fun.
I had to knock it off for six months because I'd traveled to India.

I think the risk assessment is more than a little crazy. They exclude people for too many things.
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IsIt1984Yet Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-21-06 02:55 PM
Response to Original message
60. Every 8 weeks I donate whole blood.
I'm O Neg so I feel obligated... and it feels good. :)
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maveric Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-21-06 03:11 PM
Response to Original message
61. They wont take mine.
Its that damn Hep C thingie.
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yellowdogintexas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 07:20 PM
Response to Original message
62. I think I have donated a couple of gallons over the years
currently not attempting to donate due to mass ingestions of ibuprofin for my very painful back. I don't feel right donating my blood with all that stuff running around in it.
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Xipe Totec Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 07:28 PM
Response to Original message
63. Yes, lost count after the fifth gallon.
I had varicella (the real thing) when I was a boy, so my antibody count is off the scale. They use it preferentially for neonatal and difficult pregnancies.
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Hand Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 08:21 PM
Response to Original message
64. Yep...every 56 days since 9/11/2001...
Edited on Mon May-22-06 08:22 PM by Hand
...and maybe eight or ten times before that. It's the gift of life! :toast:

O Positive... :boring:
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