How to fuel up a dying soul to go an extra mile? #Platelets Donation #Chennai Rains #Real

It started when Chennai was flooding, a random tweet looking for a B+ donor via @twitter handle @ChennaiRains. I thought they are looking for me only, mine is B+ (be positive always). I decided to volunteer for Chennai. But unfortunately, I couldn’t reach MIOT hospital(hospital itself was flooded:(. Days passed by, Chennai was back on its foot then, but not the need for blood donor nor my tweet.

On 12th of January, 2016 a person called me on a number which I tweeted when I lifted the call he mentioned an urgent requirement of B+ donor for his suffering brother. I didn’t question him, scheduled an appointment to donate at 9 am on 13th January 2016 at Miot hospital, Chennai. This is going to be my first donation, little excited, scared and worried. I have heard from people that it is just a 20 minutes process and 300 to 400 ml of blood will be donated which will be regenerated in a month. All set and slept early with a clear mind. It was a working day I choose to take off. Thanks. #Freshdesk

Next day, when I woke up I was confused, scared and decided to skip the blood donation go ahead to the office. But my parents explained to me that I must go because I have promised someone in need. Thanks a lot for their courage and practical instincts.

I took a heavy breakfast and left with thrill and joy this being my first donation. When I reached, a shock was revealed! what they want is a platelet donation. I have never heard of something like that before, surprised when I came to know that people donate platelets OMG! was my reaction. I started to worry again and was very scared My God! they gonna kill me!. Here comes the nurse with an approval form and a pen for my authorization. I denied even to look into the form and demanded an explanation. What is platelet donation? and Why was I not mentioned before? and rejected it. Confused and don’t know what to do. I really felt that I was trapped.

She(nurse) was responsible enough. She cared for me as well as for the patient and tried to explain the process that I was requested to donate platelets for a suffering leukemia(blood cancer) patient who is currently undergoing the 2nd Cycle of chemotherapy. This patient(Raj Prabhakaran) have a very low count of platelets, only if we increase it we can proceed with next cycle of treatment. Why me!!!! Vera yaarum kidaikalaya lol!. She gave a smile and made a promise that nothing harmful will happen to me, just people are scared and unaware of platelet donation that is why you are scared. Here comes the value proposition point by her ‘you are going to save or hope to save the life of a 27 yrs old patient’. But! I am not convinced, worried about my health.

Platelet? No, I am not doing it. She didn’t compel. But, I never wanted to put patient in more trouble.

I googled got this link I was not convinced.

I called doctors who are my friends, they had little idea of the system and they made one point clear. If your own blood is circulated back to you no issues. See that you get entirely new kit and proper pristine system. I am not happy! not convinced now also.

I looked for more promising explanation from doctors in the hospital. I visited OP doctor enquired about it they made it very clear that it have no side effects, your platelets count will raise after 48 hrs and you can donate again after that immediately.

Called my mom and tried to explain the situation and how I am worrying. She mentioned one of the real life situation where many people donated platelets for my cousin child who was in need. Someone donated for us when we were in need so you can donate now. I decided to donate. Dot. Good thing about being an Indian is we obey our parents. lol.

No more worries! Decided to donate and authorized for the process.

Donation process

A small sharp needle was inserted directly into my vein on right arm and blood sample was taken. Before donation, your blood will be screened for patients safety. They will test for various diseases including HIV(I was not worried) and others. I was informed it will take 45 mins and you can wait.

I walked out without informing anyone and planned to skip the donation process. I was worried again.

How can someone trust this process? Blood will be taken out and only platelets will be removed and same blood will be passed back again to the body. Holy shit! who discovered these machines. Insane. I walked out fast and jumped inside the car and drove outside the hospital back to home.

But my inner conscious was not letting me to escape I went back. Something told me that I must go back ‘You Brave heart!’

“Betrayal is equivalent to killing”.

I went back in 45 mins, I found both nurse and patient’s father was worried and they even searched for me everywhere. Now I explained them I tried to skip and how I returned back they were happy and relaxed.

Results came! I am fit and all test negative. wow!. Now doctor mentioned I have good health and my platelets count is 2.5 lac so you can donate say 20000 units. I offered my right arm again. This time it was really a big needle bigger than ordinary syringe. If anyone sees it you will not give your hand. promise!.

Warning issued: do not bend your hand at any cost for an hour

What is the process? It is an apheresis machine, it takes approx. 2 litre of blood in intervals of 200ml and separate platelets from blood and same blood is passed to your body. Only scene came to my mind was ‘Da Vinci Daemons’ scene where Leonardo experimenting blood donation OMG! ridiculous!.

You will feel the blood out and blood in during the process. When blood comes in you feel chillness throughout the body. I was scared when I felt my nose is chill and created panic.

Nurse kept talking to me throughout the process to keep me awake during the donation. Nurse and hospitals staffs were telling lots of things about cancer and lack of volunteers to donate platelets. How people run away when asked to donate platelets. Very informative! and eye opener! for me.

End of donation, patient’s father came to me and cried “You came like a God, I don’t know who you are. I don’t know how I am going to pay back to you”. I could have charged him million dollars. lol just kidding, I offered him a little few hundred bucks all which I had. That is happiness!!!!! Hospital staffs appreciated me for donating platelets for unknown person. Thanks to my parents, friends, teachers and everyone for giving me this courage and rationalism.

I am satisfied, Someone have seen ‘God in me’.

When I saw the patient, OMG! :( . I felt like this ‘common take all my blood’. God please show mercy for him.

It was a safe process no pain but you should keep your hands steady for an hour. Post this for next days you should not workout or do lifting of weight. I had pain in my right arm for next three days. A month of time over now, I am fit and back to form.

Start donating! let uss do what we can and leave the rest to hands of Almighty. 
Interested to donate pls leave a comment. or call.
Mr. Henry, Mobile: 08939896416. 
Thanks for your help!

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