‘Super-donors’ honoured by Blood Transfusion Service

One hundred and sixty four "super-donors" were honoured at the Rochestown Park Hotel last night at the Irish Blood Transfusion Service’s annual awards.

Some 139 people — including myself — have reached the 50 donations mark. Another 25 were honoured for making their 100th donation.

Cork Lord Mayor Mary Shields, Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) chair Anthony Staines, and IBTS chief executive Andy Kelly joined more than 300 guests at the ceremony.

Guest speaker Yvonne Lee told a heartwarming story about how her life had been saved following the birth of her baby, all thanks to blood and platelet donations.

The donor is the cornerstone of this entire service and without their tremendous and continued support there wouldn’t be a provision for blood and blood products needed in hospitals.

They depend on donors to maintain an adequate and safe blood supply to save and improve lives.

Each day, hospitals depend on blood donations — it may be for a routine surgical procedure or indeed major surgery such as a heart bypass or for a patient undergoing cancer treatment.

Approximately 70,000 people will require blood transfusions this year alone, and the IBTS supplies over 71 hospitals with blood and platelets 365 days a year.

Could you become a donor? Yes, that initial pinprick is uncomfortable but, after that, it’s plain sailing. I was never a fan of the sight of blood and donating blood never crossed my mind until a friend asked me to accompany him to the clinic. The rest is history. I now donate platelets and today I have donated approximately 55 units — something to be proud of.

Statistics say one in four people will require a blood transfusion at some point in their lives and only 3% of the entire population donate blood. The figures do not add up.

And because of its short shelf life, blood stocks have to be replenished every 35 days. Platelets have the shortest shelf life of all blood components, lasting only five to seven days.

Well done to all who have endeavoured to make someone else’s life better or more endurable, and the next time you make a donation, why not bring a friend.