FERGUS – An aunt and niece duo made a little history at the blood donor clinic at the Fergus Legion last week.
On July 23, Jennifer Dixon made her 101st blood donation and Emily Hales made her first.
But more significant than finally being old enough to donate blood, the 17-year-old Hales received a clean bill of health from her doctor and permission to go ahead and give.
“Finally, I have good blood to give. I’ve been waiting for months,” Hales said.
Her health story began in 2017, when she learned she had immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a blood disorder characterized by a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood.
With ITP, the immune system is stimulated to attack the body’s own platelets. Most often this is a result of antibody production against platelets, which help blood to collate.
Not having enough leads to all sorts of problems, from extreme fatigue and bruising to internal bleeding.
Hales said she missed a lot of Grade 7 while her illness was diagnosed, and eventually received experimental treatment at McMaster hospital, which has finally turned things around for her.
She received four injections of antibodies taken from blood donations.
“You should have 150,000 platelets or more,” Hales explained. “Under 10,000 is considered life-threatening. At one point I had 5,000.”
With her platelet count now at 160,000 and holding steady, Hales was approved to donate.
And she said that as a recipient of blood donations, it’s a significant milestone to be able to give back.
Donating blood is a tradition in the family.
Dixon said her father started giving blood when he was in the navy and impressed on the family how important giving blood is.
She said her father, Jim Dixon, reached 99 donations but had a stroke, which means he can’t donate blood anymore.
“(Giving blood) is a family affair,” she said. “I’m just so happy that my 101st lined up with Emily’s first donation. It seems so fitting.
“Dad really wanted today to happen.”
Canadian Blood Services territory manager Kersten Dupuis said with the pandemic on the wane and surgeries being booked once again, the need for blood is rising.
“People are resuming life,” she said. “As a consequence, there’s a need for blood and a need for donors.”
Blood donor clinics haven’t stopped, she said, even during lockdowns, but the location has moved.
Normally monthly blood donor clinics are held at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex, but since public health’s vaccination clinic is there, the blood donor clinics have been held at the Fergus Legion.
Dupuis said the procedure to give blood is still the same. COVID-19 restrictions limit capacity at the clinic and making an appointment is now required.
Individuals aged 17 and older can give and donations can be made every 60 days.
Dupuis said donations have been steady during the pandemic, but as the need is rising, she hopes people who haven’t previously made a donation will think about donating blood.
“If it becomes part of your routine, it’s easy to give,” she said. “It’s not on people’s radar, especially in the summer. But blood doesn’t take a holiday.”
Blood donation clinics are held on the third Thursday of each month, from 1:30 to 7:30pm. And for now they will be at the Fergus Legion.
To book an appointment, visit blood.ca or call 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283).
