Blood Donation

[Jax]

Hi there, I was wandering how many of you give blood. Myself and my family are making a major effort to raise awareness about blood donation especially as blood banks run low at this time of year.

The reason we feel so passionately about blood donation is becuase of my nephew Jamie. Jamie has been fighting a mystery illness since birth and his health has suffered profoundly due to it. Jamie has needed regular blood transfusions since he was 6 weeks old, and at 4 years old has had over 83. Jamie also suffers from low white cell counts and neutropenia, putting him at risk of serious infection. Due to the effects of having so many blood transfusions, Jamie has a massive iron overload which has the potential to do major damage to his vital organs. To help to rectify this, Jamie is on medication long-term, which envolves having a needle put into his tummy for 12 hours per night and allowing an infusion of medicine to run through it as he sleeps. This is likely to be ongoing, or at least as long as he is recieving blood transfusions.

Jamie has a global development delay (which is quite typical of chromosome deletions) but is making excellent progress. Mummy's little soldier!! hehe!

A lot of mystery still continues with Jamie's health, with him not fitting into any particular diagnosis. We learned at the beginning of 2008 that Jamie has a chromosome deletion that has never been described before in humankind...so essentially, it is likely he is the only one in the world to have it...hence the lack of true diagnosis for the last 4 years! Although there may be a lot more besides, we do know that Jamie has Diamond-Blackfan Anaemia ( where little or no red blood cells are produced) and an iron metabolism disorder (making him even more at risk of developing serious and irreversable iron overload)


So please spread the word for us...for Jamie and his cause

If you would like to know more please add our group Jamie's Journey ~ Diamond Blackfan Anaemia / Rare Genetic Disorder if your on facebook

and

CaringBridge / jamiesjourney / Welcome

[Alison]

I've given blood since I was in my late teens and it always used to be really easy however a few years ago they brought in an appointment system. Good idea I thought however I've found it almost impossible to book and therefore haven't managed to give blood for about a year. I had initially booked an appointment when I last gave blood but then got a letter telling me that was cancelled about a week before the appointment. Tried to book another one and the alternative session was all full. Have tried several times with a couple of months notice and not been able to book an appointment at a time which I can make. Your post has reminded me to try yet again but it is painful!

PS hope Jamie is well and his treatment continues be sucessful and sorry for whinging on your thread...

[OllieMartin]

I will gladly champion your cause from all angles. I used to give blood on a regular basis up until a few years ago. I would advise anyone who is unsure about it (usually due to a fear of needles) that it takes a maximum of 12 minutes, and the discomfort is absoultely miniscule in comparison to the overwealming feeling of satisfaction it gives to know that you're helping people like Jamie.
Unfortunately I'm no longer allowed to give blood due to a few medical complications myself, and whilst I've never needed a blood transfusion myself, I regularly meet people who have and do benefit from them, so share your passion for it.

I wish you and Jamie all the best and hope that even one more person decides to give it a go as a result of this thread.

[janeyo]

I would give blood as I have had several occasions in the past when I had to receive some. Unfortunately due to my medical history I am not allowed.
My Father gave blood for over 30 years and now is no longer allowed due to medical reaaons.

I am thankful there are people willing and able to do so.

[Jax]

Thats perfectly ok. There are still walk in centres around all dependig on the area. Jamie is in hospital at the moment with febrile neutropenia but he always fights back. We dont know what the future holds for him but his present is brilliant. He has such love around him and such a wonderful family his brothers and sisters are fantastic with him and he has such a blast. He is an inspiration.

[frias]

I wish Jamie well. Unfortunately my blood is not wanted due to the fact I have had blood transfusions myself. Apparently I might now have mad cow disease! I was very grateful for the transfusions though and hope lots of people will come forward in response to your appeal.

[Seahorse]

I'm another who can't donate thanks to my medical condition and (ironically!) the fact that I've been on the recieving end of a transfusion in the recent past. I feel genuinely sad that I can't though and think it's such a fabulous thing to do. Even though I'll never know who they were, I'm properly grateful to the folk who helped me out when I really needed it!!!

Jamie sounds like a great little chap Jax

[moola]

Just thought I'd let you know that you inspired me to go the giveblood website. I nearly died giving birth and vowed to give back after receiving a huge blood donation. Unfortunately I can't, it seems

If anyone wants to go through a quick online questionnaire to see if they can give blood then go to www.giveblood.co.uk

[Hazel at the Hill]

I've given blood since I was in my late teens and it always used to be really easy however a few years ago they brought in an appointment system. Good idea I thought however I've found it almost impossible to book and therefore haven't managed to give blood for about a year.....

I find the appointment system a bit of a trial too, Alison & even with an appointment I'm still about an hour going through the system from walking in to cup of tea & biscuit.

I don't mind though - I take a good book with me, and the nurses are always nice.

[binley100]

I always used to give blood until I kept on keeling over afterwards and they decided I was too borderline anaemic. I wish I still could because my mum has just had her second blood transfusion in six weeks and they didn't exactly the right blood to give her. There was no A+ (which I am and thought was quite common) so she had to have A- which meant the second time she needed something extra because of antibodies.
I hope your post encourages more people to donate especially for the benefit of your nephew Jamie. He sounds like a great kid. x

[zazen999]

Last time I gave blood it was a complete nightmare; they tried both arms, completely left me unable to bend either arm and when I got home [after driving with straight arms] my front door wouldn't open. I had to climb in through the window and in doing so, passed out halfway through and collapsed in a heap in the kitchen. Not much of a laugh and I just haven't done it since after being too scared to have the unbendy arm situation again.

However, I had to have a blood test 2 weeks ago and she had no problem at all getting it so I did think then that I'd do it again now that my veins are obviously getting easier to find. Old age and all that.

[Alison]

I find the appointment system a bit of a trial too, Alison & even with an appointment I'm still about an hour going through the system from walking in to cup of tea & biscuit.

I don't mind though - I take a good book with me, and the nurses are always nice.

I've just tried to book another one sometime in Jan so fingers crossed they'll be able to confirm it OK and I won't get the e-mail that tells me the time I want isn't available (even when I put a + or - 30 mins on it!). It's a shame really but I can only go after work as it takes too long otherwise especially as my blood is always a bit on the slow side to come out. A neg so not dead common or dead rare as far as I'm aware.

[bubblewrap]

I had to stop my donations due to a medical condition(nothing wrong with my blood)I am now too old(I think)

[kernowyon]

There was no A+ (which I am and thought was quite common) so she had to have A- which meant the second time she needed something extra because of antibodies.

giving a Rh pos patient Rh neg blood is perfectly fine, and it sounds like there was either a sensitising event from the first transfusion, this can happen with any blood transfusion as there are literally hundreds of rbc antigens that the body can then form antibodies against. also it may be that an antibody was already present prior to the first transfusion which is why no compatible Rh pos was available. antibodies can be naturally occuring or can be formed from previous transfusions or other events such as pregnancy.

the fact that you are the same group as your mum does not mean that you could donate blood for even a close family member.

When a cross match is performed we try to match the blood as closely as we can to the more common antigens but sometimes the patients will from an antibody.

the 'something extra' could be something like Irradiation or CMV negative blood and could be due to ongoing treatment regime or other drugs.

As someone who works in the 'trade' I always try to encourage as many people as possible to donate blood, and while you are at it why not join the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register, all it takes is one extra blood sample when you donate.

for info The National Blood Service - do something amazing give Blood

[jackie j]

My mum had a problem when she was in her early fifties and the doctor and nurses wondered why she wasnt in a coma, her blood levels were so low, ended up on long term iron tablets. My OH used to give blood but like many others has had to stop because of medical conditions.