During the World Blood Donor Day (WBDD), award ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Public Health under the theme, “What can you do? Give Blood. Give now. Give often,” some of the donors and recipients highlighted their experiences both as donors and recipients to the Department of Public Information/Government Information Agency (DPI/GINA).
LeeVan De Santos, a recipient, said that he realises the importance of blood donors when he was patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) six weeks ago from a massive bleeding in his stomach. He explained that his hemoglobin count had dropped and continued to drop while he was still bleeding.
“My wife received a call from the hospital (GPHC) explaining that they were trying to administer blood to me but it was like pouring water into a barrel filled with holes. The doctor was giving my wife the option to basically to let me bleed out or can attempt an emergency surgery which carries with it a mortality rate of about 80 per cent”, De Santos explained.
He said that through God’s grace he was able to survive however, he is stressed that his sickness put a strain on his family, church members and work colleagues.
“Donating blood may seem simple for some but the impact is so much greater because you not only save one life but the lives connected to that person, so I want to thank all those who donate blood”, De Santos urged.
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