For years the Cook County News- Herald has supported the Memorial Blood Center and blood drives held here in Cook County by running announcements of upcoming events. I’ve always thought it is wonderful to see community members coming forward to help others—possibly people they don’t even know. But the importance of blood donation didn’t really hit home until I became someone who benefited from blood donations.
Many people know I was stricken with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in December 2007 and spent several months in the hospital and rehab. GBS is an immune system disorder that occurs when a body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the nervous system. At St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, I received a gamut of tests and eventually doctors figured out what the problem was. Friends and family quickly learned more than they ever wanted to know about the debilitating disorder. Readers too, as I documented my unwelcome medical adventure in Unorganized Territory.
What folks may not know is that the treatment for Guillain Barre is derived from blood donations.
As soon as my wonderful doctors had figured out a diagnosis, I began treatment. The first treatment was high-dose immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG). The all-important immunoglobulin? It comes from blood. I don’t even begin to understand the process, but somehow healthy antibodies from blood donors are extracted and packaged up in an IV bag and given to GBS patients. The hope is that the immunoglobulin from the healthy blood donor will block the damaging antibodies of the GBS victim.
I had an additional treatment called plasmapheresis, or blood cleaning, so it is not entirely clear what rid my body of the harmful antibodies and allowed my recovery to begin. However, I do know that I had four rounds of IVIG treatment, thanks to someone who spent some time at a blood drive.
When I was well enough to return to work, I again received announcements about upcoming blood drives and the News-Herald continued to share the information with the public. It wasn’t until last year when I was talking to Polly Erickson, organizer of the blood drive at Zoar Lutheran, that it hit me. I explained to Polly that I appreciated her efforts. I cannot donate blood myself, because of aforementioned medical issues. But, as a beneficiary of blood donations, I told her I wanted to do all I could to help the cause.
I thought about writing a column about the importance of giving blood back then, but I got sidetracked. So, when Polly contacted us again this year, I again toyed with writing a column about how I benefited from the generosity of blood donors.
And as it sometimes happens, I received a “sign” that I should follow through. I was having an e-mail conversation with Jodi Hagen, promotion director at WDSE-Channel 8 in Duluth when she mentioned she would not be available for a little while because she had to go donate blood. I sent her a quick note, telling her thank you from someone who benefited from blood donations.
Jodi thought it was nice to know someone who benefited from a donation such as hers. So, I thought it was about time to write this column. To say thanks to the Memorial Blood Center for its work, traveling the North Shore to collect donations. Thanks to the local churches, the school, and the Senior Center for opening their doors to the bloodmobile. Thanks to the local volunteers who spend hours on the phone, calling donors and scheduling appointments. In fact, if you would like to help them out, call to schedule an appointment to donate. See the contact information on page A12.
I would especially like to thank the donors. A heartfelt thank you for spending that 45 minutes or so, filling out forms and giving blood. It may not feel like you are doing much, but in fact you are saving a life. You’re my hero. Thank you.
We relish news of our heroes, forgetting that we are extraordinary to somebody too.
Helen Hays
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