Story

By Tsung Ping(叢萍)

 

 

 

"Please look again, if there is any other veins on my arms or legs that can draw blood?” said the French priest, after my second failure to perform a blood draw for him. The French priest requested me to insert the needle again for the third time, as he really wanted to donate his life-saving blood. His blood vessels were extremely slim. I carefully looked over his two arms but failed to locate the target vein. As he kept requesting earnestly, I finally found a thicker vein on his outer right arm. He bent his arm in awkward posture, allowing me to perform the blood draw and successfully donated blood at last. The French priest had made 21 donations at Taipei Blood Center since then. This was my personal experience when I was a nurse at the Taipei Blood Center some 27 years ago. Over these years, we often heard stories of people giving blood enthusiastically, despite of the pain after having blood drawn. These heart-warming stories will always be remembered.

 

Things happened unexpectedly. In October 1986, the French priest was suffering from severe blood loss due to gastric ulcer and hospitalized to the Tri-Service General Hospital. He needed 2,000 cc of blood for transfusion when undergoing urgent surgery. The priest had a rare blood type, i.e. O blood type with 3 types of antibodies of C, e and Fya. The blood needed for transfusion must not contain any of these antibodies. This blood type is rare in Asia population with about one in a thousand, but not uncommon among white people, with about one in every eight men. We issued an urgent call for blood donation via ICRT and other radio stations and on Chinese and English newspapers, urging foreigner blood donors in the country to give blood. However, only 2 bags (about 500 cc) of blood collected were suitable for the patient. As it was very difficult to find suitable blood here in Taiwan, Taipei Blood Center immediately contacted the blood center in Paris for help. The serum sample was sent to Paris in order to find the same type of blood there. Thanks to the efforts of the blood centers at Paris, 1,600cc of blood was collected and sent back to Taiwan with the help from Air France and China Airlines. This great success of international transport of blood was a new undertaking. Since then, we have been actively building an inventory of rare blood group for the well-being of all patients.

 

The priest underwent a successful surgery at the Tri-Service General Hospital with sufficient blood for transfusion. He was discharged after full recovery and led a new life then. Blood transported from miles away and across national borders had saved one's life. This story was not only a good example of reciprocal altruism, but also a demonstration of our commitment in blood service.

 

 

 

There was a bloodmobile located at the front gate of National Taiwan University some 20 years ago. That was the day when blood collection personnel had finished their task of blood sampling and started the bloodmobile, getting ready to get back to the office. On their way back, a taxi suddenly appeared by the side of the bloodmobile and driving really close. A passenger on the taxi shouted out through the car windows that he wanted to give blood. He took a taxi as soon as he got off work and headed to the location of the bloodmobile. He asked if the bloodmobile could allow him to give his blood now. How could our staff possibly turn down the earnest request from an enthusiastic blood donor? Their job was to help all who wanted to give blood and that’s just what they did.

 

 

 

On 10 June 1979, the conjoined twins named Zhong Jen (忠仁) and Zhong Yi (忠義) were successfully separated after a surgical operation at National Taiwan University Hospital. I participated in the blood collection and preparation task for this surgical operation, and had seen the great unprecedented life-saving mission by my own eyes. We prepared 60,000cc of blood for NTU Hospital in case of necessary blood transfusion during the operation.

 

As fresh blood was needed for the separation surgery, we did the blood screening prior to donating blood. We asked voluntary blood donors to perform the physical examination at the Taipei Blood Center on 5 September, i.e. 5 days before the surgery. We then collected 2 blood samples from each donor. Those blood samples were tested by both NTU Hospital and Taipei Blood Center, to ensure the blood transfusion safety of the conjoined twins. The blood center then informed the eligible blood donors, requiring them to get to the blood center on either 9 or 10 September in the morning to give blood.

 

Out of 297 people who signed in, 263 became eligible after detailed examination. The surgical operation was scheduled for 7 a.m. on 10 September. In order to keep up with the operation schedule, the blood center started collecting blood from the first batch of donors from 6 p.m. the day before. 114 donors completed their donation by 8 p.m. The second batch was scheduled for 6:30 a.m. the next day (10 September). When the day came and in early dawn, donors were already waiting in queue at the lobby, ready to give their blood. The personnel had to start the blood collection earlier than scheduled. Breakfast of milk, juice and honey cake was prepared for all donors who got up early in the morning.

 

The Governor of Idaho, John Evans and his fellows were attending the China-US Trade and Investment Conference at Taiwan at that time. He gave his blood at Taipei Blood Center and wanted his blood to be used for the conjoined twins’ separation surgery."I love this country and I would like to give my warm blood here." said Evans.

 

This first case of conjoined twins’ separation surgery was a big breakthrough in Taiwan medicine history. It demonstrated the advanced medical technology in our country. And more importantly, the kindness and generosity of Taiwanese people that made all this possible deserved to be applauded.

 

 

 

Huang was a Taiwanese businessman based in YangZhou city, Jiangsu Province of China. It was 8 June 2010 when he suddenly felt sick and weak and was then hospitalized to Nanjing BENQ medical center, a Taiwanese-run hospital. After performing a physical examination, they found Huang's platelet count had decreased to 8,000 (normal platelets count is 150,000 - 40,000 platelets per mcL), the hemoglobin value was 5.6g (normal value is 12 - 16 g/dl) and a blood pressure of 76/48mmHg. Huang was also suffering from drowsiness. He was diagnosed with Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) and had to undergo plasmapheresis treatment immediately, which transfused at least 2,000ml of fresh frozen plasma into the patient body every day. Huang underwent 17 times of plasmapheresis treatment, with over 34,000ml of plasma transfused into his body, which equal to 8 times of total body wash out before regaining his health and vitality.

 

The blood Huang needed for transfusion during his treatment was partly supplied by blood centers in Jiangsu Province and Nanjing city, and partly from the contribution of more than 30 Taiwanese businessmen from Nanjing and Yangzhou district, who gave their blood to Benq Medical Center that helped save Huang's life. In addition, with the help from Red Cross Society of China, Taiwan Blood Services Foundation had issued urgent calls for blood donation and finally accomplished the lifesaving mission.

 

 

 

I have been working for blood service over the last 35 years. I was initially blood collection personnel, then promoting my career to the donor recruitment section and then reached my current position in the department of Public Relations. I have been working close with blood donors and blood donation organizations. I was originally a nurse working in the hospital. When I changed my job and involved in blood donation services later, I found myself deeply committed to this lifesaving job.

 

There was once a military police company commander based in I-lan (宜蘭) who was keen to encourage blood donation and had organized blood donation campaigns at almost every military unit he served. He found a sense of meaning in such contribution. There was time when he served his duty at administrative office where there were no soldiers under his command. It was impossible to organize any blood donation campaign without donors. He felt sorry for not being able to do more, but we were very grateful to what he had already done.

 

There was another heart-warming story to be told. Truck driver Mr. Chiu, who lived in Tainan, was a enthusiastic blood donor who had made 1,283 blood donations. I received a call from Chiu not long ago, telling me that he had been suffering from nasopharyngeal carcinoma and was no more eligible to give blood. I felt deep sorrow and was unable to utter a word hearing this sad news from him. Even when he was so sick, he did not put blood donation aside. I was sorry for his misfortune. Later, staff from Kaohsiung and Tainan Blood Center went visiting him at the hospital and at home, encouraging him to hang in there and take good care of himself.

 

First-line personnel of the blood center, especially those from blood collection and donor recruitment sections, get in touch with blood donors and blood donation organizations every single day. All those heart-warming stories are happening around them. Someone once said that our work here at the blood center is rewarding as we meet kind and benevolent donors here and do all kinds of lifesaving works. This is a career worth pursuing.

 

As time goes by, our blood services are growing and advancing gradually, with our donor base expanding. The blood donation rate reached 5.18% by 1991, achieving the international standard of 5% for the very first time. Since then, the rate went higher and higher and reached 8.13% by 2011. Not only the domestic demand for blood was met, our blood services were also well-developed, as in advanced countries.

 

The blood services in Taiwan are celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2015.Over these 40 years, more and more Taiwanese chose to roll up their sleeves and give blood. Blood centers are celebrating the anniversary with special big events, to thank all individuals and organizations that has made great contribution to blood services. Besides, the contribution of blood donors who accredited outstanding merits was recognized on the annual recognition ceremony and by receiving the recognition from the President. .Approximately a quarter of the total population in Taiwan (about 6 million people) is blood donors and we are proud of this.

 

Blood service is based upon generous blood donation by voluntary donors, who deserve our highest respect and should be provided with thoughtful services. The sustainable development of blood services depend on the continuous kindness and generosity of blood donors.

 

Staffs working at the blood services, should not only be a qualified and skilful healthcare professional, but has also place paramount importance on service. First-line personnel performing the donor interview and blood collection require even better professional knowledge and skills than ordinary healthcare personnel. Also, they should have a tidy and elegant appearance, with good manners and a positive attitude that show respect to all blood donors.

 

With thoughtful and considerate service, first-line personnel have built trust with donors and blood donation organizations, developing a positive public image which helped the blood services grow. In recent years, for improvement of blood quality and blood transfusion safety, we have built standard operating procedures for strict donor screening, particularly for the part of donor interview and physical examination. When it comes to strict donor screening, first-line staff usually face a dilemma: people willing but unable to donate blood.

 

Some experienced blood donors recalled: “Long ago, a healthy person might just sign in for donation and he could give blood right after he finished the blood pressure measurement and hemoglobin examination. But nowadays, people willing to give blood have to fill in all kinds of forms and go through long and tedious interview which may breach personal information. Blood donors are feeling disrespected.”

 

We will try our best to address these problems, in order to perform strict donor screening while providing considerate service. While following standard operating procedures, first-line personnel should serve blood donors friendlily and with sympathy. We should always cherish the enthusiasm of blood donors.

 

I am delighted to dedicate this article in celebration of the 40th anniversary of local blood service.

 

 

 

 

◎Author was previously the Director of Department of Public Relations in Taiwan Blood Services Foundation.