Give Blood.

[Dissident Dragon]

I'm a platelet donor and will give my 199th, 200th and 201st unit in 10 days time. With platelets you can donate more units, more regularly. Each unit of platelets is the equivalent of 4 whole blood units (when those are used for platelets). I donate every three to four weeks when well and have been doing this for 5 years.

You do need to be close to a Centre geared up to take platelets (I donate at the Welsh Blood Service Headquarters) and the time demand is greater (donation takes around 90 mins from start to finish). Most donations go towards the general supply of platelets. However, sometimes I've been specifically matched to a patient. The most fulfilling were being called in on New Year's day to donate to help a 2 day year old baby (who went on to make a full recovery) and my last donation where I was matched to a child born in 1998 - the same age as my daughter.

I plan on giving for as long as I can before they boot me off the Panel so will aim to crack 1,000+ (there are some already that have exceeded 1,200).

[Hammer67]

Just heard from my pal. The combination of the boys heart issue and the leukaemia is causing some head scratching. Guys Hosp have never seen it before and, apparently, only a handful of cases have ever been recorded globally. So chemo is on hold still.

[longshot]

Hammer67 said:

Just heard from my pal. The combination of the boys heart issue and the leukaemia is causing some head scratching. Guys Hosp have never seen it before and, apparently, only a handful of cases have ever been recorded globally. So chemo is on hold still.

Being ill is one of the few times when being special is not necessarily a good thing but hopefully he can dine out on it in years to come.

Hang in there young 'un.