Plasma please
Jensen, eight, leads the appeal for donors of life-saver blood product
THE family of a little boy with a rare immune disorder have thanked plasma donors for saving his life, as the NHS launches a new appeal for the collection of the blood product.
Jensen Shettler, eight, needs boosts from immunoglobulin infusions which are made from plasma.
Mum Beverley said: “I would say to blood, stem cell, platelet and plasma donors… thanks for saving Jensen’s life.”
NHS Blood and Transplant is restarting its programme to collect plasma and is launching an appeal for donors.
Donations were halted in 1998 over fears about mad cow disease.
NHS England buys immunoglobulin from abroad, mainly the US, costing millions. Covid also hit supplies.
Hubs have been set up in Birmingham, London, and Reading, Berks, for taking only plasma out of the blood u sing a special i st FAMILY Ethan, left, t, Bev, Jason n and Jensen en at home technique. Because red blood cells are not removed, plasma-only donations can be safely taken more frequently, as often as every fortnight.
NHS Blood and Transplant consultant haematologist Dr Naim Akhtar said: “We’re freezing plasma, to be made into immunoglobulin when a full supply chain is ready. This will help improve long- term NHS supplies, reducing the reliance on imported plasma. You have a medicine in you which has the power to transform or save someone’s life.”
Jensen, who lives in Huddersfield, West Yorks, with Beverley, dad Jason and older brother Ethan, has X-linked lymph o proliferative type 1, which leaves him with not enough antibodies and can cause cancer. He had a stem cell transplant to reboot his immune system and needs immunoglobulin infusions until he recovers. Beverley said: “The plasma has given Jensen’s immune system a boost.
“If he had caught anything with a weak system, it could have been fatal.”
You have a medicine inside you which has the power to save someone’s life
DR NAIM AKHTAR NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT CONSULTANT