The theme of World Blood Donor Day this year is “Safe Blood for Saving Mothers”. Despite the fact that Taiwan is getting ahead of others in safe blood transfusion for pregnant women, about 800 women died each day from pregnancy or childbirth related complications. What Grandma Su had gone through 40 years ago is corresponding to the focus of WHO on this year’s World Blood Donor Day, i.e. meeting the clinical demand for blood through 100% voluntary non-remunerated blood donation, while providing safe blood and blood products for pregnant women in order to reduce the maternal mortality rate.
Grandma Su Shu-Sian (蘇淑賢) donated her blood for the 113th times on June 14, the World Blood Donor Day, while finishing her annual quota for blood donation. As she turn 70 years old in the coming September, she may not donate blood anymore due to age limit. Kaohsiung Blood Center held a “dedicated donor graduation ceremony” for Grandma Su in gratitude for her contribution.
Grandma Su is upset for she may not donate her blood anymore soon. Talking about her donor experience, Grandma Su revealed an affecting story. Back in the 1975, when she was delivering her second child, her doctor suggested blood transfusion in case of metrorrhagia. Unfortunately, there wasn’t any blood center in southern Taiwan at that time, so blood is often collected from paid donors. Although the hospital had three paid donors on call for possible blood transfusion, Grandma Su rejected the blood from those paid donors who looked skinny and ill while chewing betel nuts. She did suffered from metrorrhagia later, and her life was at risk.
Grandma Su insisted not to receive blood from paid blood donors, even her doctor failed the persuasion. “If I were supposed to die, then blood transfusion may not help much. If I were not supposed to die, then I will survive without blood transfusion. I just don’t want blood from paid donors.” she said firmly.
Luckily she was right. She survived and realised the importance of safe blood. As she weight less than 45kg after delivery, it took her some time to recover. She immediately become a regular donor when she become healthy enough for blood donation in 1979.
Su’s husband and two daughters joined her for blood donation later. She keenly asked everyone she met to donate blood. Over these years, Su has been the best advocate for blood donation with Kaohsiung Blood Center.
Su has been a blood donor for 35 years. Right before her donor experience come to an end, Kaohsiung Blood Center made a micro movie documenting Su’s affecting story of blood donation which lasted 40 years. Please watch the micro movie
here.
Grandma Su Shu-Sian showed her donor merit card and the honorary award recognising her 113 times of blood donation.
Grandma Su donated her blood for the 113th times on 14 June 2014.