Sharing the gift of life
Blood Donor Week presents an opportunity for us to thank those who donate, and to join them if we can.
A grateful recipient
Blood donors like Robyn (pictured above) are heroes who don’t (necessarily) wear capes, writes NSA communications specialist Brett Debritz. He says:
I gave blood when I was younger but circumstances got in the way, and I didn’t think much about it for a long time.
About 15 years ago, I was looking quite pale, felt tired all the time, and struggled to walk up hills. My doctor suggested a blood test, which I had on a Friday.
The doctor rang me on Saturday morning, told me that my blood iron levels were dangerously low and said I should get into a taxi and go straight to hospital.
When I arrived at the emergency department, they had received a fax from my doctor, and I was soon hooked up to a drip to receive the first of several blood transfusions and an iron infusion.
My blood iron deficiency was eventually sorted out, but I have no doubt that I owe my life to the fact that somebody like Robyn took the time to donate their blood.
That’s why I will always be thankful to blood donors and encourage those people who can do so to contact Lifeblood about giving this most precious gift.
Many National Seniors Australia (NSA) members will have spoken to Robyn Cartwright in her role as community support consultant.
She’s one of the people who answers your calls and always does her best to help you in whatever way she can.
But that is just one of the ways she’s helping other Australians – because she is also one of the quiet heroes who save lives by donating blood.
Earlier this year, Robyn celebrated not only a significant birthday, but also a rare achievement: her 300th blood donation.
That milestone came at a crucial time for the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, as it was during the turmoil caused to south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales in the lead-up to and aftermath of Cyclone Alfred.
The wild weather forced the closure of 22 critical donor centres across the region, significantly impacting blood supply. This led to a shortfall of around 1,000 donations for every day of the weather emergency, with many regular donors unable to attend appointments.
Robyn’s journey with blood donation began in childhood, influenced by her mother, a nurse who was also a blood donor.
While Robyn initially donated on an ad hoc basis, visiting mobile vans spontaneously, her approach fundamentally changed after a powerful experience. Her husband, Brian, made a stem cell donation via blood for bone marrow registry matching.
At a donor recognition event they attended, Robyn met a woman who needed blood every fortnight due to a blood disease. Seeing this woman with her 11-year-old daughter changed Robyn's perspective.
“I looked at her and I looked at the daughter and went, ‘Oh my goodness, that little girl could lose her mum’,” Robyn said in a recent interview with ABC Brisbane. “I didn’t realise some people needed blood that often.
So, Robyn went from being a casual donor to making a fortnightly commitment. She says the fact that donors receive a text message indicating where their blood has gone helps make the impact tangible.
Red Cross Lifeblood, known to many people as the Blood Bank, operates around Australia and is always happy to hear from people interested in becoming a donor.
You can contact Lifeblood here online or by phoning 131 495.
With National Blood Donor Week being celebrated from 9-15 June, including World Blood Donor Day on 14 June, it’s the perfect time to make an inquiry.
Oh, and if you need a little extra persuasion, Robyn notes that she receives free chocolate at the end of each donation.
