abs@rdin.UUCP (Andrew Siegel) (04/13/84)
I need volunteers in the NYC area to donate blood platelets. My father has in the past week become seriously ill with acute leukemia. His own blood platelet count is 1/5 of normal, meaning that his blood clotting facility is dangerously impaired. This means that he could hemmorhage at any time and possibly die of blood loss. If we can keep any possible blood loss from killing him, then the leukemia can be treated using chemotherapy. To prevent this occurence, he receives transfusions of platelets. I'm told by my father's doctor that any healthy person can donate platelets for my father, and that I should ask as many people that I can to come in to be "typed". The typing process is simple: forms are signed, questions about health are asked, and three small test-tubes of blood are extracted from the arm and analyzed. No appointment is necessary. If your blood passes the typing process, you are called back on another day to have the platelets extracted. In this process, a needle is inserted in each arm, and your blood is slowly run through a machine that precipitates from it a fraction of your platelets. No harmful side effects are known, and the platelets are quickly replaced by your body. The process takes from 2-1/2 to 3 hours. The procedure takes place at the blood bank at Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan, which is on 16th Street, just off of First Avenue. I will gladly compensate anyone for their trouble, and I will certainly pay for their transportation as well as accompany them to the blood bank. If you know of anyone who may be willing, but does not read netnews, I would be grateful if you could inform them. Unfortunately, time is working against my father. His condition deteriorates daily, even hourly. If you wish to volunteer, please call me as soon as possible. I am reachable at work (9am - 5:30pm) at (212)486-9150. My home phone number is (212)535-2467. Leave a message on my phone machine if I am not in (which is likely). Thank you, Andrew Siegel Resource Dynamics, Inc. philabs!rdin!abs