Tag: Apheresis

It looks gross but it saves lives!

Posted on

I spent the morning watching Sherlock Holmes, while hooked up to a machine that takes my blood out of one arm and removes the platelets and then send the red cells and plasma, etc.  back in the other arm.  It takes close to 2 hours most times but the results are a bag of platelets that can be used to help a cancer patient, a kid with ITP, and any number of other health needs.

If you aren’t up for that you can always just donate whole blood. It helps people too!

I lost my best friend to cancer when I was 11, and my sister had ITP when she was in elementary school.  I currently have multiple friends who are being treated for cancer or other issues that require transfusions. It is the least I can do to sit in a chair watching a movie for a few hours knowing it can help improve or even save a life.  Think about it.

random mutterings, serious shit

Day 28 | Jan 28 | Through

Posted on

578042_10150977928428653_547771449_n[2]

Blood goes ‘through’ the tube into the apheresis machine and then back through the tube into my arm leaving the platelets in the machine to help save lives

this is an older picture but i was reminded of it today when the red cross called to set up an appointment for apheresis and i had to decline because i am having surgery soon.  i try to donate every month or so at least.  Each apheresis platelet donation can be the equivalent of up to 8 whole blood pint donations.  i am glad i am able to do this to help others and get some good karma going, since i will be having surgery for the first time in my life in a few weeks and am a little freaked out by it i will take all the good karma medically speaking that i can get 🙂

fmsphotoaday, photography