Wednesday 29 January 2014

Blood, Blood, glorious Blood

I'm going to talk about blood – not the messy, congealed kind but the type stashed away neatly in hospital blood banks.

Before I get going, I should explain that what happened to me was an extremely rare side-effect of the surgery to remove my tumour and not to be feared if you have to undergo the same. Indeed, even when it does occur, the results are not always so dramatic – but then, I'll do anything for a good story.
Barbamama - happy to be alive!

So, after my initial surgery I suffered a burst artery which lost me lots of blood and after two transfusions and the injection of so much saline fluid I looked like Barbamama, followed by three more pints of blood in the emergency surgery which followed, I emerged happy to be here to tell the tale and oh so grateful that somebody, or some people, of my blood group, happened to give blood recently.

Thanks to a poignant donor campaign when I was a student, I'd been giving blood ever since. Every four months I'd pop along to my local mobile centre, chat with the nurses, eat all their biscuits and toddle along home feeling oh, so virtuous. For anyone who hasn't given blood or received it before, I should say that a large chunk of the 30-45 minute process is taken up with screening to limit the risk of disease spreading through your blood to a patient and the blood is rigorously checked for infection after you've given it.

When I woke up alive and well and more than a little proud of the bruise from shoulder to hip and the marvelling from staff at just how much blood I'd received for one so small, I was relieved that I'd given blood in the past. Who'd have thought that one day it would be who me who needed it?

I knew that I wouldn't be allowed to give blood anymore* and consoled myself with the fact that at least I'd given blood for the past twenty years.  And then I worked it out. Four monthly giving is the maximum allowed for women (three monthly for men) so that the donor has ample time in between to build their blood supplies back up to normal levels. So it would have taken one person twenty months of giving just to provide the amount I needed to be sitting up again. On that basis, the potential amount of people I could have helped over my entire adulthood was a paltry 12. Twelve! I was shocked.

Now, I know not everybody is going to need five pints but nonetheless, how much blood would we need in the banks if we had a natural disaster or an epidemic? Could there ever be a situation where I could have been lying there with the staff whispering, 'Hang on in there Mrs Buxton, we're just waiting for your blood to arrive from Newcastle, Edinburgh, John o' Groats…'?

There is a bright side to having cancer and that is that everyone wants to help. It's the loveliness of the human spirit; everyone wants to make it right and if they can't do that, they want to make it easier or more comfortable. Is this a good place to thank everyone for the cards, messages, flowers, chocolates, candles, moisturiser, fluffy socks and fleecy cardigans, poignant charms and pieces of jewellery, books, DVDs, writing retreats (oh yes!), magazines, cleaning, ironing, notebooks (you know how much I love my notebooks), offers of shopping, lifts, meals for my children, cake, bags of healthy cancer-fighting eating and meals-on-wheels on my doorstep and hugs and positive vibes? You're all sent from God.

But, back to blood. I've realised that there is another way that people can directly help and that is this. If you can, please would you give blood? Only 4% of the population do, I've discovered. And please, tell your friends and family. You'll be helping me because I'm not allowed to give blood anymore and you'll be helping to save lives. It's that simple. Click Here to find out more and your closest place to give.

Let's get those stocks back up, I feel I've had more than my fair share of late.

And to all of you who do regularly give blood, thank you from all of us.




*Incidentally, I've also had to take myself off the Anthony Nolan Trust donor (stem cells) list which helps people with blood cancers such as leukaemia. Would you take my place on the list? Click Here to find out more J

20 comments:

  1. Will do Jax as soon as i can! xxxxxx

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  2. Another inspiring and upbeat post Jackie, in spite of what must have been a bit of a scary episode - to say the least. I discovered that I'm not allowed to register either when I followed up on the toddler who needs a donor and was in the news a few days ago . But at least you have donated for 20 years and 12 people is 12 people who might not have been helped without you! xx

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    1. Thanks for your lovely comment, Sue. I've had lots of comments over on FB and Twitter from people who also can't donate - guess it's even more important that those who can, do ;)

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  3. Right that's it Jackie Buxton, I'm doing it! I tried to register a couple of years ago and when I arrived for my appointment the clinic was running so behind that I had to leave to fetch the girls from school and somehow I never made it back.
    This is going on my To-Do list today
    You are, as ever, an inspiration
    Cathy Bramley xxx

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  4. As above, inspiring as ever. Unfortunately I can't give blood either but have just discovered that I can go on the donor organ register as there is no age limit to this so am filling in the form today. At least that is something I can do. www.organdonation.nhs.Here is the site in case anyone else is similarly inspired!

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    1. Great thinking! And thanks for the link, too :)

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  5. that's truly inspiring Jax, if the US would accept my British blood I'd have that needle in my arm now. K xxx

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  6. It's so funny that you should say that about your dodgy British blood - I had a similar comment on FB where a Brit had tried in Italy (to where she's emigrated) and was turned back in case her blood was affected with CJD. We are clearly all mad cows- must be all our green grass :)

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    1. there are just so many possible responses to that I don't know where to start!! So I'll just remind you that your extremely rare blood type (< 2% of the population) means that you gave pints of liquid gold :)

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    2. He he! That's one way of putting it ;)

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  7. Great post, I hope you're OK. Following suit from my parents, I gave blood, on and off, for many years -- blagged my way in at 17 (lied about my age because my mates were doing it!) and it was fine, but then I had babies and breastfeeding and I've not got back into it. This is a great reminder. Sending best wishes for your recovery.

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    1. Thank you TU, I'm fine, just taking it one step at a time and doing what very clever people tell me to do! I can't tell you how happy I'd be if this post gave you the nudge to go back to giving blood...and love the way you blagged your way in at 17 - for most people it was club :). You'll get your reward in heaven! I've just been over to your blog - I love the layout and that plotting and pantsing blog made me smile!

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  8. I wish I could...Apparently, weighing in at just 7 and 3/4 stone (around 48kgs for those who do metric!) means I don't weigh enough to donate! Minimum is 8 stone, unless it's changed. I send the other half instead...and have signed up to the organ donor register.
    Wishing you all the best for your recovery...and remember, 12 people is still a potential 12 lives saved; that's a HUGE accomplishment in my eyes. x

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    1. Thanks Katherine! I love the positive thinking re the 12 people :) I think you should sit at home and eat cakes while your other half is out giving blood and then you'll be able to go together next time ;)

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  9. I've been absolutely overwhelmed here, on Facebook, Twitter, by text and just in conversation by the amount of people who have either gone to give blood for the first time or have been motivated to go back. I'm so chuffed! Thanks everyone for your enthusiasm and please feel free to continue to spread the word :) At most centres, you can book an appointment or drop in and, I presume this is typical, you'll have a choice of a couple of hours in the afternoon and around three in the evening. To find your local centre, click on http://www.blood.co.uk/index.aspx and you'll see the 'find a venue' button. Happy giving!

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  10. I just read this blog...I'm running behind. I'm not allowed to give blood here because I lived in UK and there is a fear of Mad Cow here. My daughter studied Med Lab and specialized in blood, she said the fear is legit. But, I will see if I can give next time back in the UK..till then I will be thankful for those who give. You are amazing!

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  11. I just saw this on Twitter, tweeted by NHS blood. Great post. I too needed 5 pints earlier this year after I started spurting blood everywhere following what was otherwise a normal c-section.

    I'd never given blood but always meant to. And now I can't pay it back.

    I'm very grateful to those who do - thank you.

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  12. Hi Helen, thanks so much for reading and commenting. That all sounds very scary but yes, how grateful are we to those who do give blood!

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