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24/11/2014
NIBTS Appeals For Christmas Blood Donors
The Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service has launched a Christmas appeal for more blood donors.
The organisation has said its need for donations is continuing, especially during the Christmas period, when there can be a decline in volunteers.
Launching its appeal, the service said anyone can be "a special star" this Christmas, by giving blood.
Donated blood and platelets helped save the life of three-year-old Sophia from Templepatrick when she was born five weeks premature in July 2011. She was just three days old when she was diagnosed with a viral form of meningitis, which affected her organs. The virus affected her organs, including her heart developing Myocarditis with cardiac heart failure, damage to her lungs and bacterial septicaemia also ensued.
Sophia was placed on life support for a number of weeks and was not expected to survive, but due to the work of the medical staff at the Royal Victoria Hospital's intensive care unit and the many blood and platelet transfusions she has received, she is now looking forward to another Christmas.
Paul McElkerney, spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion service, said: "Sophia's story is a very powerful reminder of just how important it is to give blood. Between now and Christmas over two thousand people will need blood or blood products. Hopefully many new donors will step forward to help us meet this demand."
Special blood donation sessions will be organised throughout Northern Ireland from this week. More information can be found on the NIBTS website.
(JP/MH)
The organisation has said its need for donations is continuing, especially during the Christmas period, when there can be a decline in volunteers.
Launching its appeal, the service said anyone can be "a special star" this Christmas, by giving blood.
Donated blood and platelets helped save the life of three-year-old Sophia from Templepatrick when she was born five weeks premature in July 2011. She was just three days old when she was diagnosed with a viral form of meningitis, which affected her organs. The virus affected her organs, including her heart developing Myocarditis with cardiac heart failure, damage to her lungs and bacterial septicaemia also ensued.
Sophia was placed on life support for a number of weeks and was not expected to survive, but due to the work of the medical staff at the Royal Victoria Hospital's intensive care unit and the many blood and platelet transfusions she has received, she is now looking forward to another Christmas.
Paul McElkerney, spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion service, said: "Sophia's story is a very powerful reminder of just how important it is to give blood. Between now and Christmas over two thousand people will need blood or blood products. Hopefully many new donors will step forward to help us meet this demand."
Special blood donation sessions will be organised throughout Northern Ireland from this week. More information can be found on the NIBTS website.
(JP/MH)
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