Making Rounds
Take the Dare: Donate Platelets and Help Save Lives
Read the next chapter in your book, watch your latest TV show or make new friends — all while helping save lives by giving blood platelets at Cape Fear Valley Health’s Blood Donor Center.
And in a little less than two hours!
Alan Matula, 64, had been giving whole blood and platelets before moving here several years ago to work at Kuraray America in Fayetteville. Here, his company considers it community service.
“It’s not only Kuraray, where I work. A lot of companies across the country also consider it community service,” Matula said.
He has been donating blood since he was in college at Purdue University in the late 1970s and has continued to donate through his entire career.
“It’s the right thing to do,” Matula said. “You live in this world and have to give back to this world. It’s a hard-core way to help a person.”
Matula said he first donated platelets on a dare from a friend while he was donating blood.
“Back then, there were two needles in each arm, but it’s much easier now,” Matula said. “The needle is smaller and there is only one. They also make it very comfortable.”
With AB+ blood, he is an ideal universal platelet donor. Now, he gives about every two weeks, which he figures to be around 24 weeks out of the year.
“I dare anyone to do it. Try it at least once.” – Alan Matula
Shirley Williams, an apheresis technician at the Blood Donor Center, said they count on their regular platelet donors.
“They are loyal and know how badly we need it,” Williams said. “We can always use more to come in and donate. We have such a big population in Fayetteville, but a small donor population.”
For the last 16 years, Williams has worked with the platelet program to keep seven to eight units on bay for use by patients at Cape Fear Valley Health.
She said a lot has changed since she first started in the field as a phlebotomist in the 1980s, like the automated machines that help separate the blood returning red blood cells and plasma back to the donor, but one thing has not changed: it helps local people here at Cape Fear Valley.
“These are your friends, family and neighbors,” Williams said. “It is directly helping people you may know.”
When cancer patients go through chemotherapy, they can lose nutrients in their blood, and the platelets help them with a fighting factor to replenish what they lose.
“The blood and platelets donated here go to cardiac patients, burn victims, NICU patients and cancer patients,” Williams said. “The blood provides healing for wounds and other care. Some cancer patients need it on a regular basis.”
Williams has also seen how quickly the platelet supply can be depleted.
“The need is so great,” Williams said. “Sometimes the hospital calls and we are scrambling to call donors, but it takes time. It’s not instantaneous.”
The shelf life for platelets is five days, and purchasing it costs money and time — two days to receive it when purchased.
She said that the Blood Donor Center is a true blood center, licensed for human blood transfusions that will go to local use.
“We need local donors and welcome anyone who comes through our doors to donate platelets because we do need it,” Williams said. “We do a lot of pampering here too.”
She said each donor can have their own headphones, beverages such as hot chocolate and sodas, heated blankets, movies/TV or they can just “veg and disconnect.”
Matula agreed that the cushy recliners, pillows for comfort and snacks are a great perk. He said once the machine is on, it is easy to relax.
Williams said it is easy to get tested to see if you can donate and many people who think they can’t donate actually can.
“You can donate if you are diabetic as long as it is under control, if you have high blood pressure or even if you have previously had cancer,” Williams said. “Some are surprised to hear that and love to come in to give back.”
According to Williams, anyone can donate as long as they are 16 years old (with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and can tolerate a finger stick to make sure all of their levels are healthy.
Blood can be donated every eight weeks. Platelets can be donated every two weeks.
If anyone would like to take Matula’s dare, a chair is open for you.
