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 Linda started donating blood mostly because of
her husband Bill McCarthy.
In 1992, Bill was diagnosed with kidney
cancer, and one of his kidney’s was removed. At that time Bill was told that he
was cured. Two years later Bill was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s
lymphoma, which quickly took over his body. Bill was given chemotherapy
to counteract the disease, and this was really hard on his body.
Bill was given blood transfusions after every chemotherapy session.
Linda asked his doctor if there was anything she could do to help
out during his treatment to help repay the blood Bill was using.
She was told that she should not donate because she was the primary
caregiver for Bill, and Bill could not donate because his body
was overwhelmed by the cancer. Bill and Linda worked for a large
insurance company in Marin County, California, and a number of
their co-workers asked if there was anything they could do to help
out.
Linda replied, “You can give blood to the local blood bank.”
Linda
was overwhelmed by the generosity of her co-workers, who helped
replenish the blood supply that Bill needed on a regular
basis.
Sadly, Bill passed away. After Bill’s death Linda started
donating blood at her local blood bank. Linda first started donating
whole blood, but was feeling frustrated that she was only eligible
to give blood every eight weeks (or every 56 days). When Linda
was donating whole blood she would see other donors donating on
special machines. She asked what they were doing and was told that
they were donating apheresis. Apheresis is a special kind of donation
that allows a donor to give specific blood components, such as
platelets, plasma, or red blood cells. Blood is drawn from the
donor’s arm through sterile tubing into an Automated Blood
Collection (ABC) system which separates the blood into its components.
The desired component is collected in a special bag, while the
ABC system safely returns the remaining blood components back to
the donor.
Linda had never heard of apheresis and was eager
to find out if she qualified for the procedure. On her next donation,
Linda
went
through the screening process and was ready to try her first
apheresis donation. She enjoyed the procedure and started donating
apheresis
on a regular basis in 1995.
In 1999, Linda moved from California
to Anchorage, Alaska. When she arrived in Anchorage, Linda called
the Blood Bank of Alaska
to see if she could do apheresis donations here in Alaska. She
was informed that she could and started donating immediately.
Linda
has been a dedicated apheresis donor ever since arriving in Anchorage.
She tries to donate every other week. Sometimes,
she is deferred due to a low hematocrit (low red blood cell volume),
but she just reschedules for the next week. Linda was very excited
last year when the Blood Bank of Alaska received the latest in
apheresis technology, the Trima machines. Linda liked the fact
that the new machines used only one arm instead of two like the
previous machines, plus she could watch a DVD movie or read a
book while giving the gift of life.
Linda continues to donate with
the Blood Bank of Alaska and during 2004 she attempted to donate
apheresis 33 times during the year.
She is recognized on the Apheresis Wall of Fame as a member of
the 100 Donations Club. Also, Linda has been a dedicated volunteer
to Hospice for over 10 years.
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