Jenn Lanteigne grew up watching her mother donate blood at the donor centre in Kitchener, Ont.
While her mother was donating, young Jenn would wait while on her best behaviour for the cookies they’d enjoy together afterward. Later, she accompanied her sister to blood donation appointments as well. But those fond memories weren’t quite powerful enough to displace the fear of needles that kept Jenn from donating herself.
That changed a couple of months ago after Jenn settled back into life in Canada following some trips abroad and decided to face her fear.
“I decided to focus on two things,” Jenn said. “First, the whole process of having the needle going in takes about two seconds. It’s so quick. Second, I don’t like looking at the needle enter my vein, so I just turn my head around. Just like that the fear is gone.”
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