MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Nick van der Westhuizen, who settled in Hartenbos nine years ago, was recently recognised by the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service for donating his 300th unit of blood.
He is the third person in the Western Cape who has donated 300 units or more and, at the age of 65, he is the youngest of the three.
Van der Westhuizen started donating blood in Klerksdorp in the North West in 1968.
"The question most donors ask me is how I manage to give so many units, as a donor may only give blood every 56 days.
My life revolves around my blood donation," said Van der Westhuizen. "I have donated blood every 56 days for 47 years and two months. If you do the maths, it adds up."
What is platelet donation?
Platelet donation, known technically as aphaeresis donation, is when blood platelets are harvested from donor blood. They are stored and transfused to patients suffering from blood disorders.
As with any donation, donors need to meet the donor criteria. Whole blood is drawn during a routine donation procedure, and then separated into its constituent plasma, red cells and platelets.
Once the platelets and plasma are extracted for use, the red blood is transferred back to the donor. The donation procedure does take a little longer than regular donation and is about two hour procedure. Platelet donations can only be done at the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service headquarters in Cape Town.
Platelets play a vital role in clotting the blood and preventing excessive blood loss. Platelet transfusions are used to treat patients with leukaemia, aplastic anaemia and other blood disorders. Platelets have a shelf life of only five days and must be processed within eight hours of donation.
Unlike red blood cells, which can be stored for up to five weeks, platelets must therefore be obtained more frequently. That's why platelet donors are often required on short notice.
ARTICLE AND PHOTO: MYRON RABINOWITZ, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST.
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