One of the things I’d hoped for after having my bone marrow transplant was that I would get my active life back and I would be able to ditch my chest of medicines and medical appointments. Sadly that didn’t happen. I take more medicines now than I ever have. I had also hoped that I would have less visits to the hospital. That hasn’t worked out either. Sometimes I’m still there weekly. The biggest gap I have is a month between appointments. It may not be the life I’d hoped for but the fact that I’m still here is a miracle! For that I am very grateful.
One of the reasons why I only have a months gap between appointments is because I have a specialist treatment called IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulins) This treatment gives me some antibodies that I’m lacking in order to be able to fight infection. Before I had the treatment I kept picking up various infections. I would have my flu jab every year but still managed to get flu every flu season. One year I had two flu infections at the same time. The infections often ended up with me needing a lengthy hospital stay. I remember one time when I had pneumonia, it took me 45mins to make my bed. I’m a stubborn bugger!
IVIG is an expensive but valuable treatment. It saves lives including mine. It’s made by collecting antibodies from wonderful blood and plasma donors. Antibodies are developed when healthy people come into contact with infection. They are part of the immune systems healthy response. Due to all the treatment I’ve had, I don’t have this response.
When someone donates blood, that donation can be used to help three people. Each blood donation is broken down into its separate component parts using a centrifuge. Red blood cells, plasma, or platelets are extracted using specialised machines.
People can also donate plasma. That takes a little longer than a blood donation. Plasma is taken and red cells are given back all done by a clever machine that spins to separate the good stuff. This process takes about an hour.
Plasma is the part of your blood that carries platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells around the body. Plasma makes up approximately 55% of your blood, and contains antibodies, known as immunoglobulins, which fight infection. These antibodies are made into medicines to help people with rare diseases, immune disorders and genetic conditions. By giving plasma you could help build a person's antibodies, help to heal burns, protect pregnancies, and help babies' hearts to continue to beat.
The NHS needs more plasma donors in Birmingham, Reading and London but many people don’t realise they could donate.
When they do come along, these amazing donors come from all walks of life and plasma is used to treat more than 50 diseases.
NHS Blood and Transplant is running the ‘All Types Can Save Lives’ campaign during November because many people don’t realise they could donate.
Plasma donation is similar to blood donation, except a machine next to the donor filters out the plasma. The donor then gets their red blood cells back, which means they can carry on with their day as normal.
As I finish this blog I want to give a big shout out to all the donors who have given blood or plasma. You have saved my life over and over again. To you it’s just one day that is slightly disrupted. To me it gives me more time with my family. It gives me the chance to see my grandchildren grow up. It gives me the chance to put back into the system that has worked tirelessly to make me well. This thank you from me also comes from all those who know and love me.
If this blog has moved you, maybe you could consider becoming a donor. How amazing would it feel to save a life?
You can book an appointment at www.blood.co.uk/plasma
