Next week, I’ve co – erced my husband to coming with me to donate blood. It’ll be his first time in about twenty years.
In Australia, there is very little known about Immune Deficiency and IVIG therapy and I want to put an end to that, at least in our neck of the woods, to start with.
IVIG or specifically Intragam P is based on plasma, which is a blood product. One six gram vial of this liquid gold has to have over three hundred people donate to gather enough antibodies and, like the USA, it is in short supply.
In Australia, we are not paid for blood donations, the Australian Red Cross appeals to our sense of community and our want to help another human being. I think donations sit around every one in thirty people and statistically, one in three people require blood on a daily basis.
High demand and not enough supply, which is one of the reasons Ivy’s need for IVIG therapy goes under review every six months. People who have been on long term treatment suddenly find themselves on trials off the Intragam because the National Blood Authority are trying to keep their stock up.
At this stage, we have only one Australian pharmaceutical company that makes the Intragam and the government has allowed one American company to import Octogam.
So, my plan is to raise awareness and encourage others to donate, through Ivy’s story.
I just don’t know where to start, really.
Every week I see stories for different causes and organisations appealing for donations and help, so that is where I’m going to start. When David donates I’m going to photograph him during the process and then write an article for our local newspaper
and we’ll take it from there.
Anyone out there advocates for their children’s special needs or associations?
Any people out there in media ?
Any tips for starting out?