Latest news with #plasmaDonation
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Young athlete woke up and couldn't move...two hours later she was paralyzed from neck down
A 20-year-old rising curling talent from Canada woke up one morning unable to move - just two hours later, doctors confirmed she was paralyzed from the neck down. Brooklyn Aleksic, 20, of Abbotsford, B.C., was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition shortly after arriving at Regina General Hospital in June. The condition, which causes inflammation of the spinal cord, has left Aleksic, the daughter of well-known curler Shannon Joanisse, paralyzed from the neck down. 'Basically, within two hours of waking up that morning, she was completely paralyzed from her neck down,' Joanisse told CTV News. Since her diagnosis, the 20-year-old University of Victoria student has undergone several plasma exchanges in hopes of one day walking - and curling - again. 'At the end of this week, she will have had 14 plasma exchanges, and each exchange takes approximately almost 13 donors to provide enough plasma for one,' her former curling coach, Diane Dezura explained to CTV. 'Brook will have had 14, and that totals 175 donors. So it's really important to her (to get the message out about plasma donation).' Brooklyn Aleksic, 20, of Abbotsford, B.C., was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition shortly after arriving at Regina General Hospital, having awoken one morning in June unable to move. Pictured: Brooklyn Aleksic in the hospital The condition, which causes inflammation of the spinal cord, has left Aleksic, the daughter of well-known curler Shannon Joanisse, paralyzed from the neck down. Pictured: Brooklyn Aleksic (left) with her well-known curler mother, Shannon Joanisse (right) A GoFundMe campaign launched by her former coach has already raised $60,679 (CAD $82,425) toward its $66,256 (CAD $90,000) goal. According to the fundraising page, the donations will help ease the financial burden of Aleksic's care, covering medical services such as transportation, rehabilitation, wheelchair equipment, and more. 'She remains in hospital far from home and requires medical transport to Vancouver to begin long-term rehabilitation and be close to her friends and family. But this is just the start. From wheelchairs and equipment to adaptive modifications and 24/7 support, the costs are overwhelming,' the fundraising page reads. 'We've launched this GoFundMe to ease the financial pressure on Brook and her family, so they can focus on healing, not hardship.' While the funds will help with her care, the family says plasma donations are just as critical. The family remains hopeful that Aleksic will be able to begin long-term rehabilitation in the near future, CTV News reported. In addition to her mom's athletic prowess and stardom, Aleksic has had her own fame as well, appearing in the 2024 documentary Curl Power, which followed her Maple Ridge-based curling team. Pictured: Brooklyn Aleksic with her Maple Ridge-based curling team A GoFundMe campaign has since been launched by her former coach and has already raised $60,679 (CAD $82,425) toward its $66,256 (CAD $90,000) goal. Pictured: Brooklyn Aleksic (center right) with her family 'She has a huge circle of friends, she's a ray of light in everybody's life,' Joanisse told the outlet. 'She's positive. She's a fighter, and Brooklyn thrives academically. She's going to UVic to become an elementary school teacher.' In addition to her mom's athletic prowess and stardom, Aleksic has had her own fame as well, appearing in the 2024 documentary Curl Power, which followed her Maple Ridge-based curling team. The film was screened in theaters across Canada, tracking the ups and downs of the team as the girls pushed to compete in the Canadian Junior Curling Championships. Transverse myelitis, the condition Aleksic was diagnosed with, is extremely rare - affecting only about one in a million people per year.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Plea to plasma donors as Reading centre moves
A plasma donation centre has urged people to continue to donate as it moves to a new temporary NHS plasma donor centre has opened at Reading Bridge House - a mile away from its original location in the town.A new permanent centre is due to open next Rashid, assistant director for plasma operations at NHS Blood and Transplant, said the "support and commitment" from donors in the area was "amazing". Plasma is used to produce lifesaving medicines which are vital for patients with a wide range of conditions, including immune deficiencies, burns and liver opening in April 2021, more than 4,470 people have become Reading centre has the largest number of plasma donors out of the three dedicated centres in England, the NHS April 2024 and March 2025 it collected more than 8,668 litres of Rashid said: "We are grateful for all the support we have received from all our local donors and encourage everyone to please continue to donate plasma at the temporary centre until our permanent centre is open."We also encourage new people to think about donating plasma for the first time... your support is crucial to help us save and improve lives."Matt Rodda, MP for Reading Central, said: "I would like to thank the hardworking staff and the generous donors who have made the Reading Plasma Donor Centre such a success." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Two new questions to be asked to blood donors amid major overhaul: 'About bloody time'
In a world-leading move, Australia is lifting restrictions that have long prevented many gay, bisexual and transgender people from donating plasma, with historic changes to blood donation screening set to follow next year amid critical shortages. From July 14 most sexual activity-based wait times will be removed for plasma donation, including for people taking PrEP [a tablet to prevent HIV infection], allowing tens of thousands more people to donate. Inclusive, gender-neutral rules for blood donation have also been approved and are expected to be implemented in 2026, bringing an end to gendered screening questions and marking a major shift in how all donors are assessed. That means any person, regardless of their sexual orientation, will have to follow the same criteria to donate, removing specific questions targeting gay, bisexual and trans women who have sex with men. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia on Wednesday morning, a Lifeblood spokeswoman said the changes were a long time in the making. "It's a rigorous process when any changes happen in the health system, but we've gotten there," she said. "So from the 14th of July, restrictions are lifted on plasma — meaning gay, bi, trans and PrEP users can donate plasma without a wait time — that includes sex workers and some other groups. "The estimate, done by the Kirby Institute, is that this change could affect around 600,000 people. The only restriction that remains in place is if you have HIV, or if you have a partner with HIV." Australia's donated blood is rigorously tested at every stage — including screening for blood type, antibodies, HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and bacterial contamination — performed in TGA‑licensed labs to ensure only safe blood reaches patients, with any positive samples destroyed immediately. Blood is made up of several components, including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Plasma is the clear, yellowish liquid portion that carries these cells, along with nutrients, hormones, and proteins, throughout the body. While whole blood donations include all components, plasma donations collect only the liquid part, which can be processed and used to treat a variety of medical conditions, such as immune disorders and clotting problems. Under the new system, people in a sexual relationship of six months or more with a single partner will be eligible to donate blood. Those with new or multiple partners may also be eligible, provided they haven't had anal sex in the past three months. Importantly, men will no longer be singled out and asked if they've had sex with another man — a major step toward a more inclusive and stigma-free donation process. "Questions for all donors will instead be replaced with: 'Do you have a new partner?' and 'Have you been having anal sex in the last three months with this new partner?" the spokeswoman explained. "That will mean a wait time if you have, but if it's a monogamous relationship and it's not a new partner, then you'll be able to donate. And men and women will both be asked the same questions." Now, Australia is at the forefront globally in modernising blood and plasma donation policies to be more inclusive and evidence-based. We now join a small but growing group of countries prioritising safety while reducing stigma for LGBTQ+ donors. 'Can't do it': Urgent Aussie blood warning Urgent call for type-O blood donations amid shortages Calls to end 'outdated' ban as blood supplies drop to dangerous levels Similar gender-neutral donation systems have been implemented in countries like the United Kingdom and Italy, where questions focus on individual sexual behaviour rather than identity, allowing more people to donate safely. However, Australia's move to eliminate wait times for plasma donation among PrEP users and men who have sex with men places it among the world leaders in progressive, scientifically informed donor eligibility. LGBTQI+ campaigners have long championed such a change, with advocates welcoming the announcement on Wednesday. "About bloody time! Gay and bisexual men have some of the highest levels of sexual health practice and literacy, and I look forward to joining gay and bisexual men across Sydney and Australia in donating blood," Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich said. Lifeblood's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jo Pink, said given that the plasma is the donation type most needed by Australian patients, the change couldn't come at a better time. Pink said the safety and well-being of patients who receive donations remains, as always, at the forefront in decision-making. 'With more than 600,0000 people estimated to be covered by the previous wait times, we now anticipate an extra 24,000 donors, and 95,000 extra donations of plasma to be made each year," she said. "There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire. We hope to be able to implement this part of the change next year. "Blood safety is and always will be our top priority, but we know the current donation rules have been very difficult for many people in the LGBTQIA+ community. While they were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know that they've contributed to the stigma faced by the community. "We hope as we move through the process of seeking to have both these changes introduced, this will be a turning point for both Lifeblood and the LGBTQIA+ community." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
One million donors: Canadian Blood Services' call to action
Winnipeg Watch Brett Lawrence urges Canadians to donate blood and plasma—and explains how giving can change lives, including your own.
CTV News
04-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Cambridge, Ont. clinic paying for plasma
A Cambridge, Ont. clinic says it will be offering honorariums to blood donors. CTV's Krista Simpson explains why. Canadians are not paid to donate blood, but a new clinic coming to Cambridge, Ont. will offer honorariums to people who donate a portion of it. A new plasma collection centre will soon open in a complex on Hespeler Road. It's all part of a plan by Canadian Blood Services to increase the number plasma donations, which they say are insufficient to meet the growing need.' Plasma is the component of blood that looks kind of yellow or straw-coloured,' explained Dr. Donald Arnold, a transfusion medicine specialist who is also a professor at McMaster University and director of the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Transfusion Research. It also contains proteins, like antibodies. Plasma is used for transfusions, or to make products like immunoglobulins, that people with certain immune deficiencies may need administered regularly. 'It's a maintenance that a lot of these patients require lifelong. It's almost like someone with diabetes needing insulin because they just don't have enough,' explained Arnold. 'These patients are the same. They really don't have enough antibodies, so they need them to protect them against infections.' Canadian Blood Services has its own plasma donation centres which do not pay donors, but the one in Cambridge will be operated by a global healthcare company called Grifols. Donors at Grifols clinics can be paid up to $100 per donation, according to the company's website. Canadian Blood Services and Grifols both declined interviews with CTV News, but did provided a statement with more information. 'In September 2022, Canadian Blood Services announced our action plan in response to a global shortage of immunoglobulins, which are lifesaving medicines made from human plasma, a component of blood. Our plan involves Canadian Blood Services collecting significantly more plasma and Grifols collecting plasma in Canada to manufacture immunoglobulins on our behalf, and exclusively for Canadian patients.' The statement from Grifols said: 'Grifols collects plasma on behalf of Canadian Blood Services to help meet the growing need for immunoglobulins. The plasma we collect in Cambridge will be used to produce lifesaving immunoglobulin medicines for patients in Canada as part of our efforts to support Canada's immunoglobulin self-sufficiency.' After donating, the plasma separated out and the rest of the blood is returned to the donor. 'That's something that can be done even more frequently than a regular blood donation, because it doesn't cause iron loss or it doesn't cause your red blood cells to be too low, and your body's pretty good at regenerating those proteins,' Arnold explained. The Cambridge clinic will be Grifols' fifteenth location across Canada, with two more scheduled to open in Ontario later this summer. Canadian Blood Services said it has a provincial exemption that allows Grifols, as its agent, to offer honorariums to donors. Still, the pay for plasma model – and the departure from the Canadian norm that donors are not paid – has raised some questions and ethical concerns. Christopher Lowry, an associate professor of philosophy at University of Waterloo, said donating without expectation of payment is the 'gold standard,' but given the circumstances, paying Canadians for their plasma seems like the next best option. 'Canadian Blood Services should do everything it can to increase voluntary donations,' Lowry said. 'But if the Canadian health care system needs to use paid plasma, then I think it's better if the paid donors are here because we can be responsible for using ethical standards to regulate it.' Lowry noted that strong standards around consent are particularly important in these cases. 'For example, those regulations should at least make sure there is informed consent before the procedure every time they donate, and that the donors know that they have the right to stop in the middle of they change their mind.'
