Residents turned out in their numbers on Saturday, Sept. 21, to donate blood at the 6th Annual Edward Swire Memorial Blood Drive, thanks to NY State Senator Kevin Parker, who collaborated with the Sons of Kings Lodge #123 for the push as National Sickle Cell Awareness Month closes.
The politician who has presented the drive at Vanderveer Park United Methodist Church for the past four years joined phlebotomists from the New York Blood Center, staff, and associates in the Fellowship Hall for the noon — 6 p.m. initiative, chaired by Dr. Brandon Carmouche.
Sen. Parker, a member of the Kings Lodge #123, which is a part of the most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the state of New York, was pleased to partner with the organization, and thanked Reverend Boon, also a member of the lodge, for the use of the church hall, adding that, “an hour of your time can save somebody’s life for their entire life.”
“September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, and this blood drive is around the issue of Sickle Cell. Generally, blood donations are down, and we want to bring awareness that the disease is one in which the people who suffer from it must get frequent blood transfusions.”
“Sickle Cell affects primarily people of color and of African descent. I don’t have the disease, but I have the trait. Part of it speaks to me because my aunt passed away from the disease. She was the first person I remember that died of Sickle Cell,” said Sen. Parker, adding that this was the emphasis for him in terms of providing resources for and bringing awareness in “our community.”
He said the partnership is essential because the disease disproportionately impacts people in the black community. “We do this blood drive every year to get donations,” said the politician.
The New York Blood Center is the organization that collects, categorizes, and does all the work around blood donation. He said the sponsors are important to the logistics, providing the snacks and the technicians who collect the donations.
He said anyone can donate, but different kinds of people need to donate as much as possible, noting that regardless of different ethnic categories, there is still a blood match. Except for persons with O-positive markers who are universal donors, while some people are universal receivers.
This blood drive outreach program is close to the lawmaker’s heart. He has the Sickle Cell disease marker in addition to losing his aunt to the disease back in the 70s.
Sen. Parker actively provides programs to enhance his 21st District. He is knowledgeable about the topic and spoke passionately about blood donations, collecting all types of blood, and antigens in some blood types that would be helpful.
“We must donate blood often because the life span is only 42 days,” he said, noting that persons could give every 56 days, and repeat donors could only donate a few times a year. He can no longer donate blood after donating over a gallon in his lifetime. As such, the politician instead gives his time at regular drives in the community.
He said that in addition to Sickle Cell Anemia patients, there are accident victims and persons with other illnesses who need blood, and he called on the community to donate blood as often as they can.
Phlebotomist Jorge Hernandez said it’s very important to donate blood because not everybody on the planet can. He explained that many people fall under certain criteria, like being at risk for certain diseases or illnesses, and can’t donate.
“Before any blood is pumped out, we take a sample tube and test your blood before sending it out to people who need it. During the purification process, we filter the blood between different components of blood and the white and red blood cells, and then we send it to separate people who need it specifically.”
He noted that if someone needs platelets or blood cells, we send them those components.”
“Three lives could be saved with one donation,” he said, adding that a person can donate every two months.”
He explained that one donation of a whole blood procedure takes about twenty minutes, noting that technically, “you can give less than one pint for testing, but for a full transfusion, one pint of blood is needed.”
Hernandez further explained that the drive also collects donations for different procedures, such as the double blood cell procedure, where the machine filters out blood between the different components, such as platelets, plasma, and red cells. The machine then keeps the blood cells but pumps back the platelets and plasma into the arm.
“We use that procedure for Leukemia patients, open heart surgeries, and premature babies because these cases need high oxygenated blood.”
For those procedures, persons can donate blood every four months,” he said.
Repeat donor Michelle said she ate a hearty breakfast before donating blood. She described the process as a quick fifteen minutes and said she felt great afterward. “Whenever you can donate, you should. This is my way of contributing,” she said.
Kamla Millwood, president and owner of Palatial Publishing LLC., also donated a pint of blood.
Other phlebotomists and technicians were Sharon, Janet, Vanessa, and Kevin. Miss Full Figured USA NY 2024, Leneth Yessenia Buzzele, a Brooklyn Leaders Lions Club member, volunteered.
To learn more about donating blood, visit the New York Blood Center website at www.nybc.org.
