Tuesday 16 December 2008

What is the best drop of red

I am partial to a good red ...just like the best of us.Here are my favourite reds.


1. Splash !, 2. Gimme Your Blood! (91/365), 3. Pour me some wine please!, 4. Blood Bag, In "NO FLASH ALLOWED!" Conditioning

Today I saved three lives ... or my blood donation will in the coming days/months. I wanted to share some information on what I value in my life donating blood.


Do something special today and give blood - take this
quiz if you are Australian to find out if you are eligible.

how is your blood used
?

Other blood components including plasma and platelets are also
vital. Plasma is used in bleeding patients, for children and adults with immune
disorders, and to prevent some complications of pregnancy. Platelets are used to
manage bleeding in surgical patients and cancer, including leukaemia.

When you consider that blood components have a shelf life; up to five
days for platelets, 42 days for red cells and up to one year for plasma - its
easy to understand why the need for blood is constant

My Dad (RIP~2005) required many blood /platelet transfusions throughout his battle with Leukemia. There are so many products made from blood and plasma.One of them IVIG helps children with immune deficiencies like Ivy to stay well.

IVIG contains the pooled IgG immunoglobulins (antibodies) extracted from the plasma of over one thousand blood donors.(read more on wikipedia)


Today I gave 470mls of whole blood. In a month's time I will go for my first plasma donation. It takes longer but the red cells are returned and just the plasma is used instead. You can donate plasma more frequently.

Do you donate blood?
So what are you waiting for - won't you 'Drop some red' ...
I am very thankful for the
Australian Red Cross Bood Service... though I 'd rather never to need it.
UPDATE : I just discovered 2009 is the Year of the Blood Donor and 2009 marks 80 years of blood services in Australia.

21 comments :

Anonymous said...

We started donating again when Ivy started the IVIG. Thank you my friend for donating blood.
I am very grateful to everyone who does.

Lilly said...

I have been giving blood for many years now. My Dad has needed many trasfusions. Good on you Trish for highlighting the need to do so. And I also love a drop of the other red too...

M said...

I have never given blood. I'm afraid I would faint. You should see me when I have a blood test. Bleh.

However, I think it is a really really important thing to do and I should get over myself and do it.

Good on you for donating.

Super Sarah said...

I used to donate in the UK but here in Oz they don't want my blood as I lived in the UK before 1985 when mad cow disease was a problem. Sigh. I am a full organ donor although its not quite the same, at least its something! Actually, I should pester my other half to donate blood on my behalf!

♥.Trish.♥ Drumboys said...

@ Tiff - so am I for my Dad.

@ Lilly - yes both are good for us ;).I am glad Des was able to have transfusions too.

@ M - they are very good and 'patient' with everyone - I know you can talk to them before hand if you have issues.If it's the sight of blood - maybe you plasma donations might suit you better.There is cream (EMLA) too to help with the discomfort.
Anything that helps make people more comfortable and at ease giving blood is a good thing.

@ Sarah - it is the thought that counts in your case and yes MR Superwhite can do your share.

♥.Trish.♥ Drumboys said...

@ Tiff I never realised either it took so many donations to make the IVIG - no wonder you have to jump through so many hoops and a ring of fire to get it.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I donate... one of the reasons... Connor needed a transfusion when he was in NICU

Crazed Nitwit said...

I'll jump on the next plane to Sydney...........

CherryBlossom24 said...

I would love to donate blood, but my body just wont let me, when I had a blood test they could hardly get enough blood, about 1cc so although I would donate in a heartbeat my stupid body just wont allow it.

Sam said...

do you know...I was actually going to donate today (I even had an appointment for it this afternoon) but whenI reread the blurb that I get in the post I realised that I couldn't because I'd had my ears pierced less than six months ago!!

Jayne said...

Good on you, Trish!

Jen at Semantically driven said...

I used to donate blood until I became pregnant and then the rules changed and because I spent time in the UK I'm ineligible. I might be a mad cow or something.

♥.Trish.♥ Drumboys said...

@ Jeanette - that is great and especially that Connor benefited too.

@ Janice - I'll pick you up at the Airport.


@Cherryblossom - maybe one day ;)

@Sam - I didn't know that. Hopefully you can donate again soon.

@Thanks Jayne

@Jen - you and Super Sarah are in the same boat...
I have a PJ shirt that says I'm a mad cow . I don't understand the rules but it's good you are honest with them.

Badness Jones said...

I too spent time in the UK that makes me ineligible to donate blood here now - but I used to donate every 3 months. I did it for my mom, she was in a bad car accident when I was 16, and if it wasn't for other donors I'dve lost her then. Hopefully they'll change the rules again....'cause I don't really think I've got Mad Cow...

Leslee P said...

thanks for the visit. your little drumber boys are adorable... I love having a boy, I cannot immagine adding another in the mix. i am sure you are doubly blessed...

Lilly said...

Yoo Hoo Trish!! You just won my latest giveaway. Email me at lilly@lillyslife.com for an address I can send it to!

carmilevy said...

Good for you for donating whole blood and for laying the groundwork for donating plasma. I am a huge advocate for donation, as my dad has required transfusions on many occasions as he's dealt with his cardiac issues.

I'm up to 289 plasma donations, and I hope to keep giving for many years to come. With more folks felt as you do...through blog entries like this, perhaps they will!

NickTay said...

Happy WW

Le said...

thankyou so much for doing this - I am unable to due to the whole mad cow thing ....

my mum has been donating for 32 years ... ever since I was a child with kindy failure and required donations ... she has never once stopped expressing her gratitude to people like you who saved my life :)

From one mum to another - thanks ever so much le xoxoxo

ps very timely xmas post too :)

MissyBoo said...

I'm another suspected 'mad cow' but when I lived overseas before Boo was born I used to donate regularly (and it wasn't solely for getting a day off work for my efforts)!

Hey it's Amy Benson said...

What a wonderful gift to give! I have donated plasma many many times.
This is a very nice post :)

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