Creating Browncoats At The Red Cross

POSTED BY: Whimsicalnbrainpan
UPDATED: Sunday, June 1, 2008 22:00
VIEWED: 11783
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WHIMSICALNBRAINPAN

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 9:54 PM

If someone has brought this idea up already I apologize for the repeat.

I have volunteered at the Red Cross for a year and a half doing clerical work. I have also become a regular blood donor again. The last time I went in to give a pint I found out about platelet donation.

Most patients undergoing a bone marrow transplant, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation treatment or organ transplant need platelets. The donation process is much different from donating whole blood. While you can donate platelets up to 24 times a year (your body replenishes them more quickly), the donation process also takes a lot longer since they filter the platelets out of your blood. It takes on average between one to two hours to donate platelets.

I gave my first platelet donation today and discovered that they have little TVs with DVD players at each chair. They even had a nice selection of DVDs for me to choose from. Of course “Firefly” and Serenity were not among those DVDs. It struck me that donating the series and even the BDM to the Red Cross would be a great way to recruit more Browncoats and reward those who are helping to give the gift of life. Since I have the CE of Serenity, I’m donating my first copy.

I just thought I’d throw the idea out there.

For more information about donating platelets go to: http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_19_,00.html

For more information about donating whole blood visit: www.givelife.org


"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle."
http://whimsicalnbrainpan.blogspot.com/

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ANONYMOUS1

Wednesday, April 23, 2008 12:37 AM

Whimsicalnbrainpan,

Brilliant! 2 hour window. Good works! Perfect. And Firefly is $17.99 at Target this week.

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PSANDUSKY

Wednesday, April 23, 2008 2:09 AM

Hi. I work at the Red Cross, and I am also a platelet donor.

One little (perhaps neurotic) caveat I have regarding DVDs at the apheresis unit is that unless one has superb veins, first-rate nurses, and excellent chances of a successful donation, don't take the frakkin' DVD's.

Seriously. If you have either difficult veins or clueless nurses, I can guarantee that you will have a botched donation on the day you intend to watch a movie. The fluid will infiltrate your arm, the machine will break down, the unit will spring a leak, or the nurse will take a biopsy of vein tissue. Combinations of the above are not unknown. Something will happen that will preclude your being in the chair long enough to watch a DVD.

It has happened to me. I have given up taking in movies, because sure as shootin', someone will screw up my arm or my donation when I bring something to spend the time watching.

====================
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TALIE

Wednesday, April 23, 2008 2:11 AM

As someone who suffers from a platelet disorder - I want to say a big thankyou for donating platelets and spreading the word about it - I haven't needed a platelet transfussion myself but I know lots of people with the same disorder whose lives have probably been saved by one.

Can I have your permission to repost your message on a platelet disorder message board I administer?

Excellent idea on the Firefly/Serenity donations

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WHIMSICALNBRAINPAN

Wednesday, April 23, 2008 2:37 AM

Go right ahead Talie. I'd be honored.

PSandusky: Well that is why the series would be good to donate as well. And my chapter must have great nurses, everything went swimmingly. I didn't even bruise and I have small veins, am a hard stick, and bruise easily.

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle."
http://whimsicalnbrainpan.blogspot.com/

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MADMOLLY

Wednesday, April 23, 2008 2:42 AM

I raise my glass of red wine to you Whimsical! I have an antibody that prevents me from donating, makes me very sad. So your story inspires me.

madmolly

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SAMATWITCH

Wednesday, April 23, 2008 8:59 PM

What a great idea, Whimsicalbrainpan.

I gave whole blood for many years, but switched to plateletpheresis after my mother died of leukemia. (My father had also died of leukemia, 35 years previously.)

I have watched many movies while I donated - sometimes having to stay an extra few minutes if I picked a long one. The only thing I have to watch is that it doesn't have sad scenes in it, because when you're lying down with needles in both arms, tears run in your ears!

I haven't given for a couple of years because of medical issues, but I understand now they are doing one-armed plateletpheresis, in a blood donor chair, so we'll see how that works next time I go.

"I swallowed a bug." River Tam, Serenity[i/]

Live in BC? Check out http://firefly.meetup.com/12.