Woman who needs blood pushes for donations
CBC News
Posted: Feb 25, 2013 7:01 AM AT
Last Updated: Feb 25, 2013 8:58 AM AT
Prince Edward Islanders donate 150 to 200 units of blood a month. (CBC)A P.E.I. woman with a rare blood disease, who has needed hundreds of units of blood in the past, is encouraging Islanders to donate.
Pam Smith is one the few people in the Maritimes who has TTP, a disease that causes a drop in platelets in the blood. TTP leads to tiny blood clots that travel through the blood to different organs.
Smith has had three episodes, and each time her blood plasma has had to be completely replaced. During this, she can use all the blood donated on P.E.I. in a month in just a few days.
"Each day it takes a few hours. I have about 10 bags a day, which is about 150 bags each time," said Smith.
"In Prince Edward Island, they get about 150 to 200 per month."
Smith is hoping Islanders will mark rare blood disease day, which is Thursday, by making a regular commitment to donate either whole blood or plasma.
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