My 46th pint of donated blood…

I donated my 46th pint of whole blood last week at the Blood Bank of Hawaii’s Dillingham Donor Center.

One of the things that make donating blood such an enjoyable experience is the opportunity to talk to the nurses who take care of me during the entire procedure. The first nurse went over my medical history with me. I found out she is from American Samoa and enjoys working for the Blood Bank. She has such a sweet personality that she made me feel happy that she was working for the Blood Bank, too.

The other nurse I talked to was relatively new, having been hired the previous month. She took care of me when the collection stopped. She removed the needle, took care of the bag and tubes, cleaned my arm and applied the bandage. Turns out she is a Castle High School grad and was graduated from a local college before working at the Blood Bank. She was very pleasant with a quick smile to make you feel good that you gave blood.

Afterward, I walked to the Blood Bank’s canteen and helped myself to a refreshing can of juice and a hot char siu manapua. Ono!

I am eligible to give again in July. I am looking forward to it!

Great viewing: Irish Blood Transfusion Service’s video on platelet donation

There are a lot of video clips on YouTube regarding blood, blood products and blood transfusions. One of the best that addresses the platelet donation and why it is important was created by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service. It’s professionally made, packed with information, and runs a short 7 minutes. You can view it by clicking here.

World Blood Donor Day, June 14, 2009

Someone sent me a magazine clipping about World Blood Donor Day, June 14. I surfed the Net and found the World Health Organization website that explains what World Blood Donor Day is all about — click here.

In a nutshell, World Blood Donor Day marks the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel laureate who discovered the ABO blood group system. The website adds:

“The global theme for 2009 – “achieving 100 per cent non-remunerated donation of blood and blood components” — places a renewed emphasis on improving the safety and sufficiency of blood supply. As more and more countries achieve the goal of 100 per cent voluntary non-remunerated blood donation, there is growing appreciation of the vital role of voluntary donors who donate blood on a regular basis. Not only are they the safest blood donors, they are also the foundation of sustainable national blood supplies that are sufficient to meet the needs of all patients requiring blood and blood components.”

I appreciate that this esteemed international organization appreciates voluntary donors, who give to help others and not themselves. I agree that voluntary donors are the safest blood donors.

If you are a blood donor, mark June 14 as a day in your honor. It is truly deserved.

Why Donating Platelets is Important …. and Easy

Platelets, made in your bone marrow, are used by your body to heal wounds and clot blood.

When you donate whole blood, your pint is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets. Cancer patients undergoing aggressive medical processes, such as  chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant, need platelet transfusions because those treatments can destroy platelets along with cancer cells. As a result, the patient is often in danger of severe bleeding. For such patients, platelet transfusions are their only hope for survival.

There is a special procedure in which a donor can give only platelets. This procedure produces, in one sitting, the equivalent amount of platelets collected in five to six whole blood donations. After the platelets are extracted, the rest of the blood is returned to the donor. And whereas a whole blood donor can only give every eight weeks, the platelet donor can give as soon as every two weeks.

The platelet donation procedure (commonly called “apheresis”) at the Blood Bank of Hawaii goes like this:

• Just as done by the whole blood donor, the platelet donor fills out a medical history questionnaire and receives a mini-physical exam.
• One arm is prepared and connected by a needle and tubes to a special blood cell separator machine. An anti-clotting agent is combined with the blood to keep it from clotting while being processed.
• A small amount of blood is taken from your vein and, after entering the machine, the platelets are separated for collection in a sterile plastic bag. The machine then pumps what remains of your blood back into your vein using the same tubes and needle. This cycle is repeated until the collection process is completed.
• The blood that returns to your vein is cold, so you will be wrapped in a blanket or two to keep you comfortable.
• The anti-clotting agent may make your lips and mouth tingle. If that happens, disclose it to the nurse and she will offer you some calcium (I like the chocolate chews) to counter the tingling.

Your time on the machine will vary based on your weight and platelet count, but the collection process normally takes from 60 to 90 minutes. The donation process if fully automated and carefully monitored by trained staff. With that amount of time on the machine and with so much attention from the staff, you will find yourself getting to know the nurses and becoming friends. They are always glad to see you and they are part of what makes your platelet donation such a satisfying experience.

When I first started donating platelets years ago, both arms had to be connected to the machine. One needle to withdraw the blood, the other to return the blood. It was forbidden to bend or move the arms. If your nose itched, you asked the nurse to scratch it. Some donors brought their Walkmans and, later, iPods to listen to music. A TV and VCR were available for you to watch a TV show or a movie on VHS tape.

Today, with the new machine that requires just one arm, your other arm is free to hold a magazine, use your cell phone or scratch whatever itches. You can still watch TV or view a movie on DVD. Just lie back, relax, and let the machine do all the work.

Times have changed and the equipment has changed. What has not changed is the constant need for platelets. Patients fighting cancer, kids undergoing surgery, moms giving birth and other people facing medical crises are counting on platelets to help save their lives. Considering a single platelet donation is equivalent to five to six whole blood donations, I hope you see how important it is to be a platelet donor. And by giving many more times than a whole blood donor, you can help save many more lives.

It takes leadership and courage…

When you are 17 or 18 years old, it is easy to be afraid of the needle, especially a big needle that someone wants to poke into a vein in your arm when that needle will stay in your vein in your arm for, like, 10 minutes!

Now, imagine being a 17-year-old student who has to persuade other 17-year-old students to do just that!

Well, my hat is off to two 17-year-old seniors at McKinley High School who not only did that, but did it with such dedication today that the school surpassed the Blood Bank of Hawaii’s 30-pint goal by 6 pints, for a total of 36 pints!

I salute Tony Nguyen and Travis Coloma, who coordinated today’s blood drive at this public school. McKinley High has produced some of Hawaii’s most accomplished citizens, like U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye and former Hawaii Governor George Ariyoshi. Tony and Travis continue the schoolʻs proud tradition of producing outstanding young leaders.