Blood? Nah, I’ll Just Stick with Plasma: An Ostomate's Journey of Giving and Laughing

As part of my fabulous quest to do 50 things in my year of 50, I recently took a plunge into the world of plasma donation. Who knew that donating was not just a good deed, but also a chance to embrace curiosity, generosity, and a sprinkle of self love? Spoiler alert: I left the vampire themed tshirt at home.

The Scoop on Plasma Donation in Australia

First off, let's unravel the nuances of plasma donation, especially for those of us living with an ostomy. Unlike traditional blood donation, where the entire blood bag is filled with the elixir of life, plasma donation focuses more on the yellowish, sticky stuff the straw that stirs the metabolic drink, if you will. Plasma contains essential proteins and antibodies vital for blood clotting and overall health. Here's what you should know about donating plasma in Australia:

1. Eligibility: While blood donation might be off the table for ostomates due to the vascular nature of our bowels, fear not! Most of us can still donate plasma. However, it’s essential to check with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service to confirm specific eligibility requirements based on your health and medical history.

2. What to Expect: Donating plasma is pretty similar to giving blood, but there’s a twist! After they withdraw your blood, it’s spun in a centrifuge (fancy word alert!) where the plasma is separated from the other blood components. The rest is returned to you. It’s like a science experiment right there in the chair!

3. Time Commitment: About 40 minutes to an hour is typical. That’s enough time to contemplate life choices or orchestrate your next Netflix binge while snacking on some complimentary biscuits, party pies and juice. Balanced diet, am I right?

A Hypothetical Turn of Events

Now, let's get to the part that made me bring up my detective skills! I had to ask my wonderful plasma pros ‘what if I donated plasma, and it ended up at a crime scene? Would I be getting an all expenses paid trip to the interrogation room’? Their laughter was reassuring as they explained that DNA from plasma alone wouldn’t lead to a real-life episode of CSI: Plasma Edition. So rest easy, fellow donors, you aren't getting framed for unsolved mysteries!

Why Donate?

You might wonder why I chose to donate plasma. Besides the benevolence and warmth that washing over you when you realise you’re doing something amazing for others, there’s the community aspect. By donating, you’re directly impacting the lives of cancer patients, burn victims, and many others who desperately need plasma to aid their recovery. It reminds us that our challenges can also fuel our capacity for giving.

Final Thoughts

So here I am, just an ostomate filled with joy and curiosity, encouraging you all to consider plasma donation as part of your life and self love journey. Who knows? You might even spark some joy and give someone else a second chance at life.

Now go ahead, roll up those sleeves and let’s make a difference together. After all, it's not every day you get to be a superhero by simply giving away some of your liquid gold!