I cried twice today. Once for a stupid reason, and I'm done with that. The second time was when my local dating site, where I met all my super bestest good friends (and dated a bit too for fun), sent out a mass email to all their users linking to a post I did about donating blood in my name.
Which, btw, you can do. If you tell then when you are donating that it's for me, I can get credits in the blood bank. I have had two blood transfusions and three platelet transfusions. So if you are going to donate blood, email me at the debster email on my site and I can get you the patient information.
MD Anderson always has shortages in blood, and there have been a few times where I had to wait for a transfusion until all the surgeries were done. Blood donation is critical to their Blood Bank.
Every time I receive blood, I totally cry. Especially the two times I received blood and not platelets. The blood was dark and thick and seeped into my chest cathater/IV slowly. And then I look up and realize that someone donated that to me. That someone took time out of their day to donate that to me. It humbles and amazes me.
Here is what they wrote:
(HC stands for Houston Connect - a great local dating site)
re: Help a fellow HC'er
Hello everybody,
HC has a policy to never send out official messages on behalf of or about specific members. However, a recent situation occurred that made us look beyond this policy in order to help one of our great members.
Her username is Zkat and she needs your help!
To learn more about how you can help (in Zkat's own words), go to the Forums listed under the "Community" tab. Click Misc. Discussions > Donate Blood Today.
Please try to help in any way possible. Zkat has been part of our community for a very long time, and we greatly appreciate her contribution and dedication to HC.
Thank you for your time and help.
The HC Team
I mean, how freaking cool is that????
So, if you want to donate blood in my name, shoot me an email and read the extended entry for more than you knew about donating blood and donating platelets. Be a first time donor. For the debster.
I'm going to sleep well tonight. This made my day.
Involve Your Family & Friends in Your Care
Have Them Donate for YOU!
Why should your family and friends become blood and platelet donors at M. D. Anderson?
• All blood components donated to us go directly to cancer patients in our hospital
• Cancer does not take a holiday, vacation or break
• The success of patients’ cancer therapies depend on a comprehensive transfusion schedule
• Our patients have long-term transfusion needs for multiple blood components
• M. D. Anderson patients require more than 100 platelet and 500 red blood cell transfusions a day
• Due to our transfusion volume, we experience constant blood component availability challenges
• Cancer does not care about age, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, wealth, social status or educational levels
How can your family and friends help?
• It only takes 30 minutes to donate whole blood and 2 hours for platelets
• Platelets can be donated every 48 hours
• Whole blood can be donated every 56 days
• There are two centers for donation
• Hospital Blood Donor Room, Floor 2 in front of Elevator A
• Blood Bank, 7007 Fannin, Ste. 140 (Fannin South Professional Building)
• Our Blood Bank can provide off-site collections of blood products in your community
• For more information or to set up a drive in your community, please contact 713.792.7777 and speak to a community representative.
BLOOD AND PLATELET DONATIONS
GENERAL DONOR REQUIREMENTS
No Aspirin* for 2 days prior to donation
At least 17 years old
In god health
Weigh a minimum of 110 lbs
Bring Picture ID and Social Security Number
List of all medications you are taking and the reasons why you take them
Eat within 4 hours before donating
TEMPORARILY NOT ELIGIBLE
48 Hours:
(*)Aspirin/Aspirin-containing products including Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Nuprin and Aleve, and Herbal Products containing garlic, ginseng, ginko or ginger, including teas
72 Hours:Antibiotics
12 Months:
Significant cardiac problems, severe asthma, blood transfusion, tissue or organ grafts
Travel outside the U.S.:
Contact a Blood Bank Representative for information on specific country
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Platelets
90 – 120 Minutes
May donate every 2 days
1 donor = 1 platelet Dose
1 component: Platelets
Red Blood Cells and Plasma returned to donor
No aspirin products
Whole Blood
20 – 25 minutes
May donate every 8 weeks
8 donors = 1 platelet dose
3 components: Red blood cells, platelets and plasma
Nothing returned to donor
Aspirin OK
Please you guys give this platelets thing a try. My first time they sent me home because my iron was too low - so especially if you are female, take some iron supplements a few days before you go. Or throw an egg in the cast-iron skillet.
Deb, I wish I could get you credit for my donations but I live far away, and they don't send them like that. I don't think. They say they only last five days, so it seems dumb to me to put them on a plane. But it reminds us how important it is to give them if we can, BECAUSE THEY ONLY LAST FIVE DAYS.
The Red Cross people say 90-120 minutes, but the paperwork stuff can take half an hour or more your first time, and on me they always take two units because my platelet count is good or something, so it takes closer to two and a half hours sometimes. Just fair warning. Take a book (my site has TVs too, and radios with headphones), and ask them to use only one arm. It takes a little longer but is nice to have the arm free to scratch your own nose.
Also do not plan to go to the gym after you donate, or do any kind of lifting. You can take a walk, but nothing strenuous for about five hours.
Most folks do this every two weeks or so once they get in a groove, although if you are strong and have lots of free time, you can conceivably do it after a couple of days. I got a little woozy last time so I am waiting extra this time.
I am a bud of Sis #1. You have a lots of folks vibing for you.
Onward.
Posted by: Ritterskoop at November 16, 2005 02:04 AMIs this something I could do from here (Indiana) and still have sent to you? Because that's totally something I would go do.
Posted by: Angie at November 16, 2005 07:33 AMAbout out of state donations. I was told by the good folks at MD Anderson that some blood banks and hospitals out of state have a reciprocal relationship with MD Anderson. So if you say you are donating for a particular person there, they will still give her credit, even if she doesn't get that particular blood.
For more information about this, contact someone at MD Anderson at (713) 792-7788 or maybe your local people will know if they have a reciprocal relationship. I have already had reports from out of town folks that their blood centers had reciprocal relationship with MD Anderson.
Here is more information about donating to a friend or family member at MD Anderson:
What is the Family and Friends Blood Program?
This new program helps us manage the specific blood component requirements of each patient, as well as the flexibility to maintain an adequate blood supply for all patients. Units of blood collected from people whose donation is triggered by concern for a specific patient are credited to that patient’s account as a replacement unit of blood. These units are processed and placed in the general inventory for routine use. Patients who avail themselves of this program will have priority access to blood or blood components for transfusion when the need arises.
What is a replacement donation? What is a blood transfusion credit?
Individuals may donate to replace blood that has been used by a patient. This is called a replacement donation, and the donor may ask that a monetary credit be issued to a specific patient’s account. This may be done at M. D. Anderson or any other blood banks that participate in the American Association of Blood Banks' National Blood Exchange.
For more overall information about MD Anderson's blood donation program or general information about giving blood or platelets, check out their website:
http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/bloodbank/
We are very far from you...not sure this would work.
K donates blood with great regularity and I will have him ask when he next goes...
I (sorry to say) am terribly squeamish, BUT am on the marrow donor list (I'm okay if they sedate me).
Can we donate if we went to England & France in 2004? I hope so. I'm going to talk to my mom about coming down and donating too, since she is one of the more rare blood types.
If you could send me details, that would be *great*!
Posted by: Christine at November 20, 2005 01:24 AM