SANBS saved my life without a drop of blood – personal testimony of fate
A friendly on-air radio challenge, instigated by a friend of mine who works at SANBS, saved my life.
I was challenged to donate blood in my pajamas. The appeal was for more people to donate blood, regardless of having a bad hair day or not having the energy to dress up for the occasion. The emphasis was on the importance of regular blood donation, especially during uncertain times, to ensure a sufficient supply to patients and hospitals in need.
Little did my friends and family know, that I’ve never ever donated blood before, never even attempted to donate. So the challenge of doing it in my pyjamas was the least of my worries.
I finally managed to persuade my sister and a friend to join me as I knew I would need all the moral support I could get. My nerves were slightly eased when another motorist pointed out that part of my gown was hanging out my car’s door. After a good, yet nervous laugh, we proceeded to the PE Blood Donor Centre, with Algoa FM announcing my donation attempt which was about to go down.
The donor centre was quiet, with no other donors insight, and I was assisted through the screening process. Great was my relief when I was told I couldn’t donate blood. Then, reality kicked in, and my temporary relief was suddenly replaced with concern. Why was my blood pressure high? What does high blood pressure mean? Why is it bad? The nurse tried her best to calm me down and explained a bit more. After I had one of the best cappuccinos ever, my blood pressure was taken again, to make sure that the initial high reading was not due to me being nervous about donating.
Disappointment all around, I had to leave the donor centre with all my blood still intact, but with the added knowledge that I might have chronic high blood pressure which could potentially be a health risk for me if it is not managed.
SANBS staff advised me not to be alarmed, but to regularly take my blood pressure reading, and to document this over a period of a few weeks. If it remained outside of the desired range, I should see my doctor for further advice and options, which I certainly did.
My new blood pressure monitor was probably the best purchase I have ever made. My doctor suggested that I test my sugar levels as well as my cholesterol, which both came back alarmingly high.
Needless to say, I have changed my lifestyle overnight and am on the correct medication, to address all of these conditions.
If it was not for my good choice in friends, friends who happen to work at SANBS and who is persistent enough to challenge their friends to donate blood, I would not have been so lucky. From taking a step to do something good to save someone else’s life, my own life was saved, and for that, I am extremely thankful. I am committed to paying it forward and this open letter is the first step in my quest to give back to others.
I can vouch that SANBS can be trusted to save lives – in more ways than one. Never underestimate your power to make a difference, even when you are performing the most insignificant little task. That insignificant task might just turn out to save someone’s life.
2020 might be a terrible year for many, but with the help of SANBS, it became the year that changed my life. I now understand why high blood pressure and cholesterol is often referred to as silent killers.
According to a Businesstech online article from May 2020, Cardiovascular Disease-related deaths accounts to 48 742 daily globally compared to an average of 7 504 daily deaths from Covid 19. The second most common cause of death globally is Cancer at 26 181 on average per day.
With all the publicity and fear around Covid 19, many people fail to realize other serious health risks such as hypertension, and the scariest part of hypertension is that 80% of these cases can be prevented with early detection and treatment. SANBS facilitated the process of early detection in my case and I do believe that it was not the first time a potential blood donor’s life was saved as a result.
If you have never attempted to donate blood before, maybe it is a good time to consider it, as lives will be saved, even if it is your own. We do good to help others, but sometimes, without even knowing it, we might be the ones needing help.
Written by: Helezanne Scholtz from Port Elizabeth