I'm special

[ellid]

I just got a card from Mass General Hospital. They tested my blood when I gave at Arisia, and it turns out that I'm one of the rare individuals who does *not* have cytamegalovirus (CMV), one of the herpes complex viruses. I'm thus an ideal candidate for platelet apharesis donation, where only my platelets are taken. Platelets are crucial in certain cancer treatments and Mass General is one of the *the* cancer treatment centers in the Northeast, so I can see why they went *whee* when they tested my blood.

Their usual donation times are on weekdays when I'm at work, but they have monthly "platelet Saturdays," where platelet donors can schedule appointments on Saturday mornings. That I can do. Not every month, certainly, and I want to talk to MGH to see if there are any restrictions on me driving afterwards. Even better, my local hospital, Baystate, has a platelet donation program with evening hours. *That* I can do pretty regularly. I'll get in touch with them as well, since I could potentially give platelets 24 times a year.

I've had a couple of major health scares over the last few years, and by the grace of God I'm fine. It seems like this is the least I can do for those who are less fortunate than I.



*50-80% of adults are CMV positive. Who knew?

Comments

[gardengirl6.livejournal.com]

What a multiple blessing! You're special (we knew that, though), you can help others with a renewable resource, and you can do so often and (fairly) conveniently. Yippee! I need to check and see if the rules have changed for blood donations - I used to donate regularly, but then became excluded from donating due to having lived in England for six months in the 80's....

[ellid.livejournal.com]

More than three months' residence in Britain since 1980 is still a downcheck, or was for Mass General. They probably have more information on the Red Cross web site.