England and North Wales
Over to you!
Star letter:
Donating runs in the blood
I have been donating since I was 18 and on my 121st donation in August I took both my granddaughters along to donate with me. Ellena is 20 and Bethany is 21 (pictured left) and had never donated before, but they enjoyed the experience and said they will become regular donors. Later in the day, my daughter also went along to donate for the first time so now we have three generations of donors in the family. We are all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and actively encourage other members to become donors. I intend to keep donating as long as I am able.
Editor's response: It's great that you encourage your family and other members of the church to donate and we hope to see you all at sessions in the future. Congratulations on your 121 donations.
E-magazine thumbs up
I wanted to say how brilliant the firstedition of The Donor e-magazine is. It looks good and has very informative content. I did not know you could donate removed bone after a hip operation - pretty amazing! The magazine is easy to navigate around and doesn't use paper. Congratulations.
Editor's response: Thank you so much. An e-magazine is something we have wanted to do for a while as it saves paper and is much cheaper to produce. The e-magazine was sent out to all donors who opted to receive information from us by email. We hope to be able to send out to more donors in the future. If other readers would like to receive The Donor and other communications from us by email in future, please complete the online form at www.blood.co.uk/donor
First transfusion
My story isn't very amazing, but quite interesting. I was apparently one of the first people to ever recieve a 'complete exchange transfusion' in December 1945 when I was a couple of days old. This made me determined to become a blood donor myself and I have passed the 75 mark and am aiming to hit 100.
Editor's response: It is veryinteresting and also amazing that you have seen first hand how blood donations save lives. Well done on reaching the 75 donations mark and here's hoping you get to 100.
Where blood comes from
My children, and now some of my grandchildren, suffer from the blood disorder spherocytosis and occasionally need blood transfusions. So I feel it's good for them to attend donor sessions with me to show them where the blood they might receive comes from. I have been lucky and have always had a positive and friendly reception from the staff when I have taken the children along.
Editor's response: It's fantastic that you bring your grandchildren along when you donate and let them know where the blood they receive comes from. Thank you for your kind comments and it's great that the children feel welcome at the session too.
Giving back
I would just like to say how much I appreciate everything NHSBT do. Several years ago my son fell under a train and lost his right arm and leg. He received 18 units of blood. Up to this point I had never donated blood, but I did my bit as soon as I could and have now paid back the 18 pints my son received and am on to my 20th. Keep up the good work and a plea to all readers - please tell anyone you know that donating blood is worth it!
Editor's response: Thank you for 'putting back' the blood your son received and more and for telling us about your experience.
Staff make me welcome
On my monthly visits to Cathedral Court in Sheffield to donate platelets, the staff always have a smile. I sit back and wait for the familiar words 'just a small scratch' and Gail as always smiles and inserts the needle. Then I settle down with my feet up while Jackie takes my order for tea and biscuits. Thanks Gail, Julie, Jackie and all the staff for looking after me again and again.
Editor's response: Thank you for your kind feedback. Long may you enjoy the tea and biscuits.
Quick links
In this issue
- Cover story - Happy to be donating again
- News
- Digital update - Our 50,000 friends
- Donor profile - High flying family donors
- World Blood news - Safer blood for Uganda
- Donor update - Let's hear it for donors!
- Cord blood - Cord blood set to save more lives
- Cover story - Counting down to London 2012
- Donor update - National Transplant Week is a hit
- Over to you - Donating runs in the blood
- Donor profile - Blood donor to the rescue
- Over to you - is it true that
- Blood facts - Am I rhesus positive or rhesus negative?
- Patient story - Back behind the wheel
- Meet the expert - "The change in transfusion has been incredible"
- Ask the doctor - Platelets
- Crossword
