Every other Tuesday night, I sit in a comfy chair for two hours and watch a movie. A nice lady brings me juice and offers me cookies, tucks me in and makes sure I am comfortable. What am I doing? So glad you asked! I am donating platelets through platelet apheresis. It doesn't hurt, just takes a bit of my time, which in the grand scheme is a small, small contribution.
You don't have to do it every other week. You can do it once a month, four times a year, once a year... but no more than 24 times a year. So every little bit matters!
Most patients undergoing a bone marrow transplant, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation treatment or organ transplant need platelets in order to survive. In fact, doctors are finding platelets play a vital role in more and more new therapies.
With just a five-day storage life, platelet donations are delivered quickly to the patients who need them. Platelet donors have the satisfaction of knowing that their donation will be saving a life within just a few days!!!
Click on the link below for a center near you -
http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_19_,00.html
Think about all the good your platelets will do!
love,
Kathleen
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
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2 comments:
thanks for the info..i have trouble giving blood due to iron issues..like not enough..but maybe this is a way i can help..will have to check into it..glad you shared how you are helping out one donation at a time:D
Thank you for donating platelets! My mother-in-law is currently being treated for Lukemia and receives platelets 2 or three times a week! You are absolutely correct, it saves lives. She would not be with us today if it weren't for receiving platelets. You are a wonderful person, Kathleen!
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