For Marla- question about platelet donors

From: Becca- rwalker@geo.arizona.edu
Date: 12/31/2003
Time: 4:00:19 PM
Remote Name: 172.200.167.203

Comments

Although my last resort is an MUD, I still want to hang onto that as an option. In an attempt to decrease alloimmunization while I undergo drug therapy, I'm trying to get a pool of platelet donors for future transfusions.

Marla, I know from your website that you used the same group of platelet donors for your transfusions. I have a few logistical questions:

(1) Did you make sure that your donors were not HLA matches for you in the event that you needed a transplant at a later date?

(2) How did you find the donors? (Random people or people you knew?) Did they need to undergo any special testing?

(3) How did you go about organizing this with the Red Cross?

If anyone else has done this and would like to provide some advice, I would appreciate it.

Happy New Year!