Visit Emphasizes Importance of Platelet Donors
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Some people call him the Pied Piper of Platelets. A retired factory worker has named his effort “Platelets Across America” and he is traveling the United States raising awareness about the need for platelet donations to help cancer patients.
On Thursday, Whitney donated his platelets at the Kentucky Blood Center, making Kentucky the sixth state in his quest to donate platelets in every state. His visit comes at a pivotal moment because the blood center is trying to convert more whole blood donors into platelet donors.
Hopefully, his visit to the Kentucky Blood Center this week will result in an increase in new platelet donors.
Whitney showed blood center officials the way. Before he had even donated his platelets in front of media cameras, he convinced Chelsea Graft to donate platelets rather than whole blood.
“Donating platelets is a thrill,” Whitney said. “When you realize that your platelets are going to probably save the life of a cancer patient within four days, how can it not be a thrill?”
Ms. Graft, of Lexington, said she had never really considered donating platelets, but was convinced by Whitney’s enthusiasm. While donating, she said, “This is so comfortable, I don’t want to leave.”
Graft made her next appointment to donate platelets before leaving the blood center.
Each week 260 opportunities to donate platelets to the Kentucky Blood Center are available, but less than half the appointments are being taken. The hospitals served by the blood center transfuse 34 platelet units each day, but the recent decline in platelet donations has meant that other states have had to help supply Kentucky’s hospitals. “We’re so inspired by Mr. Whitney,” said Jim Tinker, KBC spokesperson and platelet donor.
“He’s shown us that we need to roll up our sleeves to donate and to tell people how important platelet donations are. People don’t understand the need. People don’t understand how comfortable the pheresis process is. We platelet donors can give frequently and recruit other donors too.”
Whitney, from Avon Lake, Ohio (near Cleveland), did interviews with four radio stations and the Herald-Leader newspaper during his platelet donation. Dr. Kevin McDonagh, chief of the UK HealthCare Markey Cancer Center Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, also discussed the importance of platelets in cancer treatment.
More than 70 percent of all platelets donated to the Kentucky Blood Center are transfused into patients fighting cancer.
Platelets, with red blood cells and plasma, are one of the three primary components that make up blood. When most donors give blood, they give whole blood which contains all three components. However, donors can opt to donate platelets alone through the process known as pheresis. Platelet-only donations utilize a special instrument that takes only platelets, but allows a larger amount to be taken than would be collected through a typical whole blood donation. Also, platelets can be donated more frequently – 24 times in a year – than whole blood which can only be given every 56 days.
Some cancer treatments cause a loss of platelets. These specialized blood cells help control blood clotting. When platelet levels fall too low, patients are given a transfusion of platelets to replenish their supply and prevent life-threatening hemorrhages. Some patients may require a daily platelet transfusion for several weeks.
Those wanting to donate platelets can schedule an appointment online at membersforlife.org/ckbc/os_location_all.php.
The Kentucky Blood Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring a safe, adequate blood supply for 67 hospitals and clinics thanks to generous blood donors in 62 counties.