Helping the COVID fight

A positive diagnosis to coronavirus after a Turkish holiday now has a Warragul couple playing their bit to help the recovery of others affected.

A positive diagnosis to coronavirus after a Turkish holiday now has a Warragul couple playing their bit to help the recovery of others affected.

Magret Rea and Terry Hennessy have responded to a plea by the Red Cross to donate blood from which they use the extra plasma containing antibodies to the virus.

According to Red Cross convalescent plasma from someone that has recovered from COVID-19 may help boost the immunity of patients battling the illness.

Tomorrow Mr Hennessy and Ms Rea will head to Traralgon to give their fourth donations at Red Cross Lifeblood.

Both were initially approached by Red Cross to find out if there were antibodies in their systems.

Some people have very low levels that are unsuitable to help treat others but it was found we both have high levels of the antibodies, Mr Hennessy said.

Donors must have fully recovered from the virus and be symptom-free for at least 28 days.

Mr Hennessy and Ms Rea were diagnosed with coronavirus in March on their return from Turkey.

Both immediately went into isolation, Ms Rea also needing to be hospitalised for a period.

Red Cross says antibodies stay in the plasma after a patient has recovered from COVID-19 but Mr Hennessy said it is not known for how long and does not preclude a person from contracting the virus again.

Warragul couple Terry Hennessy and Magret Rea are all smiles knowing that their donations of plasma containing antibodies to coronavirus may help others affected recover more quickly. They are off again to Red Cross Lifeblood at Traralgon tomorrow to make their fourth donations.