September 24, 2010 3:35 PM PDT
I can't donate having had cancer a few years ago but got to 50 pints before I had to give up. Great Rob - not only because you gave blood but also because you're obviously supporting someone who has been a good part of your life. I'm great friends with my two ex's too and would do same for them. Good on ya (o:
PS - Beki she's grown beautifully (o:
Glad you're on the mend, Choc! And thank you, I'm a VERY proud Gran!!! 
September 24, 2010 6:30 PM PDT
Beki, I wrote in error in my earlier posting, not sure where my head was when I wrote that.
The last time I tried to donate blood at an American Red Cross group donation site ( about 5 years ago ) I was told that due to the cornea transplant I received in the early eighties I was ineligible because of the possibility of Creutzfeld-Jacob disease. Sorry not HIV. Now I had cancer in 1979 and had to wait 5 years before they would allow me to donate blood, and also had to wait 1 year after each tattoo I had done. But I was donating regularly in th mid to late nineties at the place I worked.
When I was last refused, the attending nurse told me directly that corneas came from cadavers (mine came from a man that died in an auto accident) and there was no way to test for CJD. I was discouraged and haven't tried since then. I just did a little research and I do not see any criteria regarding cornea transplants on the American Red Cross site. Maybe they loosened their rules. Some of their info is posted below. Apparently there is no test for CJD or vCJD.
So I will try again.
From the American Red Cross site.
Wait 12 months after receiving any type of organ transplant from another person. If you ever received a dura mater (brain covering) transplant, you are not eligible to donate. This requirement is related to concerns about the brain disease, Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (CJD)
In-Depth Discussion of Variant Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease and Blood Donation
In some parts of the world, cattle can get an infectious, fatal brain disease called Mad Cow Disease. In these same locations, humans have started to get a new disease called variant Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (vCJD) which is also a fatal brain disease. Scientists believe that vCJD is Mad Cow Disease that has somehow transferred to humans, possibly through the food chain.
There is now evidence from a small number of case reports involving patients and laboratory animal studies that vCJD can be transmitted through transfusion. There is no test for vCJD in humans that could be used to screen blood donors and to protect the blood supply. This means that blood programs must take special precautions to keep vCJD out of the blood supply by avoiding collections from those who have been where this disease is found.
September 24, 2010 10:42 PM PDT
.................. Glad you're on the mend, Choc! And thank you, I'm a VERY proud Gran!!!
I'm right as a bobbin now Beki and hopefully it won't be too much longer before I can start donating again. Thank YOU from another VERY proud Grannie
Rob - thoughts are with your ex and hopefully all will be well before too long - Big Hugs
September 25, 2010 5:40 AM PDT
That would then be the reason I can't donate. They told me "Mad Cow". Never understood what that had to do with me. Thanks for the lightbulb, Rex.
September 25, 2010 4:11 PM PDT
Mad Cow always puzzled me.... IF I knew I was going to be slaughtered, cut up and eaten I'd be a little mad myself !!!!
October 16, 2010 3:52 PM PDT
Sadly I am unable to donate due to a Cornea Transplant I had, now get this way back in 1982. Since corneas are taken from cadavers and this was done before HIV testing there is a remote chance. Hell it has been 28 years and I am healthy. Why won't they take my blood.
Rex, I donated yesterday and asked the lady in charge about your situation. She looked up on the computer about donation requirements and what could exclude you and she said in no way should your cornea transplant exclude you from donating. With an organ donation, same as a blood transfusion, they require that you wait at least a year. Unless you were given a dura matter (brain tissue) transplant, which excludes you for lifetime.
You might try again!
October 16, 2010 3:54 PM PDT
I donated regularly until being banned for having been in Germany in the 80's. Any idea if/when that will be lifted? Checked a couple months ago, the ban was still in place.
Ruf, I think it depends on how long you were there. But Germany isn't considered the United Kingdom is it? 
October 16, 2010 11:28 PM PDT
Sadly I am unable to donate due to a Cornea Transplant I had, now get this way back in 1982. Since corneas are taken from cadavers and this was done before HIV testing there is a remote chance. Hell it has been 28 years and I am healthy. Why won't they take my blood.
Rex, I donated yesterday and asked the lady in charge about your situation. She looked up on the computer about donation requirements and what could exclude you and she said in no way should your cornea transplant exclude you from donating. With an organ donation, same as a blood transfusion, they require that you wait at least a year. Unless you were given a dura matter (brain tissue) transplant, which excludes you for lifetime.
You might try again!
Thanks Beki, I will do so soon.
October 20, 2010 5:21 AM PDT
No, Beki, Germany is mainland Europe. I was last told over the summer that Red Cross didn't want mine. or anyone in my family. We were in EU 1980-1984 and again 1985-1988.
.....now the allotted time has elapsed since my last tat. 
Maybe they think it's too much trouble since they can just buy a pint right down the street
