Be a Hero and Be a Donor

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By Nurse Diane

Today is Valentine’s Day, and it’s also National Donor Day.  Not only can you go down to the local red cross and donate some blood, you can also go to the Department of Motor Vehicles and sign a donor card to donate any organs needed should anything unfortunate happen to you.  According to usa.gov: currently, over 100,000 people are waiting for an organ donation, and each day, 18 people die waiting for an organ.

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February 14th is recognized across the country as National Donor Day. The nationwide event focuses on five types of donation:

Organs;

Tissues;

Marrow;

Platelets; and

Blood.

Many nonprofit organizations hold blood and marrow drives as well as organ and tissue sign ups to encourage those who are able to donate to do so as often as possible.

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One organ can save up to 8 lives.

Supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as many nonprofit organizations, National Donor Day was started in 1998 by the Saturn Corporation and its United Auto Workers.

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So today, on Heart Day, why not sign a card to donate your heart, or anything else, or just donate a pint of blood and be a hero and save a life!

Aplastic Anemia and MDS Awareness Week

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By Diane Forrest, RN

Aplastic anemia is a disease of the bone marrow. It happens when the bone marrow stops making enough red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets for the body. Any blood cells the marrow does make are normal, but there are not enough of them. Aplastic anemia can be moderate, severe or very severe. People with severe or very severe aplastic anemia are at risk for life-threatening infections or bleeding.

Although aplastic anemia can appear at any age, in any race or gender, it is diagnosed more often in children and young adults. It is also more likely to strike Asian-Americans. Each year, between 600 and 900 people in the U.S. learn that they have aplastic anemia.

Aplastic anemia is caused by:

• Toxins, such as pesticides, arsenic, and benzene;
• Radiation and chemotherapy used to treat cancer;
• Treatments for other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis; and
• Pregnancy - sometimes, this aplastic anemia improves on its own after the woman gives birth.

Symptoms include tiredness, increase infections and bruising.  To determine if you have Aplastic anemia a blood test is needed.  Treatment includes transfusions, medications or a bone marrow transplant.

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MDS is a group of disorders where your bone marrow does not work well, and the blood-forming stem cells in your bone marrow fail to make enough healthy blood cells. People with MDS can lack the right amount of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets (the small cells that help blood to clot).

The disease happens because the bone marrow cells do not develop into mature blood cells. Instead, these blood cells stay within the bone marrow in an immature state. The symptoms and the course of MDS may vary greatly from person to person. These differences depend on which blood cells are affected.  Causes include:

• Been a smoker;
• Been heavily exposed to certain chemicals, such as benzene; and
• Had chemotherapy or radiation treatments   Symptoms and treatment are the same as with Aplastic Anemia.

This is Aplastic Anemia and MDS Awareness Week.  For more information click here: http://www.aamds.org/

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