I'm also 0- universal donor. Maybe we're twins separated at birth 25 years apart in parallel universes. I have given blood often over the years, sometimes more often than others. It's a donation in Canada. All you get are cookies and the ability to save lives (which is pretty awesome.) I once received several pints of blood, some of it semi-frozen (a story I've told here before). I am very grateful for this. Once the transfusion nurse couldn't find an effective vein and needled me four times before giving up. That turned me off from donating for several years. Twice they rejected my blood - once low hemoglobin (my normal is slightly anaemic) and following a trip to France and too much rich food, they rejected my blood again. That turned me off France. Good question AnSionnachRua.