‘We survived because of blood donors’

WHEN Pamela Brice looks into the eyes of her beautiful four-year-old daughter, she sees the generosity of blood donors reflected back.

Neither she nor her daughter would have lived without the precious gift of blood they both received.

“We are hugely grateful that we survived because of those people who gave blood,” said Pamela, from Douglas in Cork.

Pamela, 37, gave birth to identical twins, Eva and Úna, by emergency Caesarean section on June 14, 2004, coincidentally the date of World Blood Donor Day.

Both babies, who were born prematurely, were very ill after developing twin to twin transfusion syndrome, a condition that resulted in an imbalance in the blood from one twin to another.

Eva, who was overloaded with blood, was in the early stages of heart failure while Úna, the smaller baby, was completely anaemic and required a transfusion as soon as she was born.

Pamela received six blood transfusions following the births after doctors at the Erinville Maternity Hospital discovered that she had a rare blood clotting disorder.

“I will never forget how cold I was in intensive care and how much better I felt after another transfusion,” she recalled.

Pamela, who is expecting her third child, said plans had been made for the birth in Cork University Maternity Hospital and there was a possibility that she will need a further transfusion.

Initially very pale, it was only after Úna received another blood transfusion that she blossomed into health, said her mother.

“I often think of the people who gave blood and I have met some of them. They are truly humble because they do not expect any thanks for such a precious gift,” said Pamela, a part-time accountant .

During Blood for Life week, which began yesterday and runs until Sunday, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is hoping stories like Pamela’s will encourage more people to become regular donors.

The theme of this year’s Blood for Life Week is “be the type that makes a difference”.

“You never know when you, a relative or a friend will be depending on the commitment of donors,” said IBTS chief executive Andrew Kelly. “We need existing donors to give blood regularly and we need new donors to replace those who are no longer able to give blood.”

Blood facts

* 24-year-olds get blood more than any other age.

* 46-year-olds are the most frequent donors.

* 70% of donors give blood for the first time with a family member, friend or neighbour.

* 47% of the Irish population are O positive.

* Blood lasts just 35 days.

* 3,000 blood donations are needed every week. n45,000 blood donations are needed between now and Christmas.