Ottakee Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 A plea to all of my WTM friends (esp. those of minority and mixed races).....if you are able, please donate blood. Someone we care about is in the hospital awaiting a blood transfusion but they are having trouble finding a match as he has a lot of antibodies due to sickle cell and so many previous transfusions. You never know, you just might be the match for someone in need and an answer to their prayers. My son started donating last spring and was contacted by the Red Cross that he was match for someone who was more difficult to match so now he is on the regular schedule for donations. Every unit counts....and while you are at it, sign up to be a bone marrow donor as well. Just a quick and painless cheek swap and another potential way to help save a life. 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Wonderful thread. I tried to eat a big Breakfast, before I went to the local Blood Bank to donate blood. The blood one donates will be regenerated by a healthy body in a short period of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 I'm so sorry about your loved one! I was a regular donor until a relative of mine passed away from what was believed to be Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease. I can no longer donate due to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Yes, please. My Dad has had numerous red blood cell transfusions and I remember how much difficulty they had matching him for the first time. It goes beyond the A,B,O + - stuff. He almost died at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 I really wish I could. :crying: Dh does, though, as often as he's able. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YaelAldrich Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Wish I could too (Hep B carrier). My DH is too fainty to give blood. Maybe I can encourage my kids to as they get older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 I wish I could. I donated twice before they changed the rules. This rule now excludes me: You were a member of the of the U.S. military, a civilian military employee, or a dependent of a member of the U.S. military who spent a total time of 6 months on or associated with a military base in any of the following areas during the specified time frames From 1980 through 1990 - Belgium, the Netherlands (Holland), or Germany I check back periodically to see if they ever change or remove it. But, interestingly, I am on the bone marrow donation list and they did not rule me out because of this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted December 2, 2016 Author Share Posted December 2, 2016 So hard watching them wait and wait for a match. Why could have been a fairly simple blood transfusion this morning has now turned into an inpatient stay and nationwide round the clock search for blood. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 I'm sorry! I hope your loved one finds a donor soon. I took a break from donating when diagnosed with a platelet disorder, it has resolved and last week donated for the first time in a couple years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Having lived in Germany means I am not allowed to. I do not think this is based on actual scientific evidence. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junie Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Yes, please. My Dad has had numerous red blood cell transfusions and I remember how much difficulty they had matching him for the first time. It goes beyond the A,B,O + - stuff. He almost died at the time. I had no idea. After a quick google search, I found this chart that lists dozens of blood types I had never heard of. OP, I pray that they can find blood for your loved one quickly. :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 What's the deal with having lived in Germany??? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frogger Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Thank you for the reminder. I need to do this again. I got out of the habit when I was pregnant a lot. Time to get back in. I'm so sorry for the pain you and your loved one are going through now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 (edited) I wish I could. They won't let me due to my having SVT - not bone marrow either. Calvin does, despite only just being heavy enough to do so. Edited December 2, 2016 by Laura Corin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 (edited) What's the deal with having lived in Germany??? It is now tagged on with those who lived in the UK or France during the 80s, Mad Cow. http://lolako.com/tag/why-those-stationed-in-germany-in-the-1980s-cannot-donate-blood/ It is interesting to me that these things change periodically. At one time, if you had lived in Africa in the 80s, you could not donate blood. And if you had ever slept with anyone who lived in Africa in the 80s, you couldn't give blood! I can't donate. There is always something on the list that fits what I can't donate. I lived for 6 months in England in the 80s. I lived in Africa for the first 18 years of my life (left in the mid 80s), and I have had Hep A and Malaria. One or more of those things is always on the list. Edited December 2, 2016 by DawnM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 (edited) I wish I could. I donated twice before they changed the rules. This rule now excludes me: You were a member of the of the U.S. military, a civilian military employee, or a dependent of a member of the U.S. military who spent a total time of 6 months on or associated with a military base in any of the following areas during the specified time frames From 1980 through 1990 - Belgium, the Netherlands (Holland), or Germany I check back periodically to see if they ever change or remove it. But, interestingly, I am on the bone marrow donation list and they did not rule me out because of this. Living in Europe during that time period doesn't exclude someone from the donor list because in the cases of stem cell transplant usually the need is so critical and immediate that it far outweighs the risk of possibly developing CJD down the road. When my family member had a transplant he had to sign off a stack of waivers and one of them was being informed that his donor lived in one of those regions during that time period and that he was aware of and understood the risks. When the stats aren't in your favor to make it through even the next five years, CJD becomes a very low consideration. Thanks from the bottom of my heart to those of you who are blood donors and are on the bone marrow registry. I'm not able to donate due to a family member with CJD but my husband is an 8+ gallon blood donor. Ottakee, I'm sorry your loved one is back in this situation. It's gut-wrenching enough even without complicated blood typing. Edited December 2, 2016 by Pippen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Living in Europe during that time period doesn't exclude someone from the donor list because in the cases of stem cell transplant usually the need is so critical and immediate that it far outweighs the risk of possibly developing CJD down the road. When my family member had a transplant he had to sign off a stack of waivers and one of them was being informed that his donor lived in one of those regions during that time period and that he was aware of and understood the risks. When the stats aren't in your favor to make it through even the next five years, CJD becomes a very low consideration. Thanks from the bottom of my heart to those of you who are blood donors and are on the bone marrow registry. I'm not able to donate due to a family member with CJD but my husband is an 8+ gallon blood donor. Ottakee, I'm sorry your loved one is back in this situation. It's gut-wrenching enough even without complicated blood typing. I wish they would put this on the website! I don't have any rare forms of blood, so maybe I am not looking in the right place.....is it there? I am on the bone marrow list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luuknam Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 It is now tagged on with those who lived in the UK or France during the 80s, Mad Cow. Interestingly, if you had a blood transfusion in the UK or France you can't donate, but if you spent less than 5 years in NL or Germany for example and you had a blood transfusion there, you're still a-okay to donate in the US. Even though, obviously, the blood donors in NL and Germany are from NL and Germany and usually have lived there more than 5 years since 1980 (my dad just went to donate last week in NL, and has spent 36 years in NL since 1980). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendy not in HI Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 I have a and e antibodies in my blood. I'm not entirely sure what that means, but the last time I gave blood I received a postcard in the mail telling me thanks but no thanks - they can't accept my blood. It's strange that it could actually be just what someone needs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted December 2, 2016 Author Share Posted December 2, 2016 I don't totally understand the antibodies thing at all but that is a critical component here. As of late last night no blood had been found. We are praying that someay be found soon and that the doctors can discover WHY the blood is needed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Interestingly, if you had a blood transfusion in the UK or France you can't donate, but if you spent less than 5 years in NL or Germany for example and you had a blood transfusion there, you're still a-okay to donate in the US. Even though, obviously, the blood donors in NL and Germany are from NL and Germany and usually have lived there more than 5 years since 1980 (my dad just went to donate last week in NL, and has spent 36 years in NL since 1980). That makes no sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted December 2, 2016 Author Share Posted December 2, 2016 They could not find a match for the blood so now they are transfusing with less perfect match blood, treating with steroids, and praying hard. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Oh that is so bad. I can't donate because I have so many autoimmune diseases. I guess it is likely someone would get one of those on top of what they had already. My dh was a donor for many, many years. Then they said because he has Gilbert's Syndrome, a complete benign condition of slightly higher bilirubul he would need a doctor's okay. He never went and got one. Now that he is out of the military and has a regular doctor, I will suggest that he get that note and go back to doing it. My son has donated blood. My daughters have not because both get faint from blood draws regularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Praying. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 They could not find a match for the blood so now they are transfusing with less perfect match blood, treating with steroids, and praying hard.Praying. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoCandJ Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 (edited) I would love to donate but my blood pressure is often too low (my regular is in the 90/60 to 100/70 area) and I had a bad experience with my arm being bruised for over a month. They would love me to because dh and I both O+ Edited December 2, 2016 by MomtoCandJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luuknam Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 I would love to donate but my blood pressure is often too low (my regular is in the 90/60 to 100/70 area) and I had a bad experience with my arm being bruised for over a month. They would love me to because dh and I both O+ The website says you're good if it's at least 90/50 when you're there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 I keep meaning to donate, but I tend to forget between pregnancies. Maybe after this baby is born I will finally do it. Thanks for the reminder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabelen Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 I feel so bad I'm not a blood donor, but they won't allow me as I lived in the UK during the 'mad cow' thing. Me too. I have to confess that I donated even though I physically hated the experience. I have always been on the lower weight limit and I would faint every single time, in addition to be very slow. My dh couldn't either to start with anyway because he was lucky enough to get malaria both in Asia and Africa. Both of us are O+ so it's unfortunate. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbutton Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 I would love to donate but my blood pressure is often too low (my regular is in the 90/60 to 100/70 area) and I had a bad experience with my arm being bruised for over a month. This happened to me many years ago when my BP was 90/54. They didn't turn me away, and I had a horrid experience. That probably wouldn't be a problem at this point, but I had too many cumulative bad experiences with people not being nice to me at the blood bank and/or being completely incompetent. One time, the person drawing my blood played with the needle in my arm over and over after noticing that if she touched it "just right," it would vibrate in my arm. They also used to tell me that they hit a valve, and that's why it took me so long to donate (my arm would go cold and numb, etc.). A regular phlebotomist told me that was bunk. I have veins that would bleed just looking at them. I would definitely donate if I could go to a lab with competent people instead of a blood bank. My DH stopped donating after each and every visit took about two hours even if he was one of only one or two people in the entire blood center donating, and the people running the place seem to be sitting around. He just doesn't have time for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 I wish I could. I donated twice before they changed the rules. This rule now excludes me: You were a member of the of the U.S. military, a civilian military employee, or a dependent of a member of the U.S. military who spent a total time of 6 months on or associated with a military base in any of the following areas during the specified time frames From 1980 through 1990 - Belgium, the Netherlands (Holland), or Germany I check back periodically to see if they ever change or remove it. But, interestingly, I am on the bone marrow donation list and they did not rule me out because of this. I'm in a similar boat from having lived in Europe; the concern is mad cow disease as they apparently cannot screen for prions. I'm O+ so would be a good donor, but haven't been able to donate since college (before the new rules). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 What's the deal with having lived in Germany??? For US military folks, the issue is that military commissaries in Germany got their beef--including ground hamburger--from the UK during the period in which some UK need was contaminated from mad cow disease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJosMom Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 (edited) Great thread, OP. I hope that this thread encourages people to donate blood and blood products; thank you to all who do. Within the first few days following DD's birth, I received over 60 units each of blood and plasma and over 280 units of platelets. But for the donations of strangers I never would have met my daughter. As for the rules, I must say that, as a recipient, I am glad that the FDA is strict with the regulations of donors. I think they do an excellent job of keeping our blood supply safe. I hope that your friend gets the treatment he needs. Edited December 4, 2016 by JoJosMom 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 (edited) Beginnng this week and through New Year's are really important weeks to donate. Many do anted blood products have a three week shelf life and we are in a time of year when donations are low due to the holidays. My son needed a total of ten units of blood over New Years week a few years ago. We are forever grateful for those who took the time out of their holiday schedules to donate. Blood donations truly do save lives. Edited December 4, 2016 by TechWife 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 I was an 0+ blood recipient in Nov. 1997. I know what it is to receive such a precious gift from strangers. I can't donate for medical reasons but I deeply appreciate that others do. Thank you, blood donors! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted December 4, 2016 Author Share Posted December 4, 2016 They were not able to find a match for them but did find something close and had to use that. Still hospitalized and stable but on meds to hold down reaction to blood that wasn't a match. Prayers are that if hemoglobin is stable this morning they will be released with close medical monitoring. Yes, if possible, donate blood. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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