Donors who donate platelets are in a league of their own. These donors need to be able to tolerate sitting for an extended amount of time (2 hours), have excellent veins, above average platelet counts and a willingness to help the cancer, trauma, or surgery patient that would find themselves having to receive a platelet transfusion. We take extra steps to ensure our apheresis (platelet) donors are comfortable during the donation, to the point that it has been described by some donors as "pampering". This, we think, is a good thing. This donor Spotlight shines on our Platelet Donors.  

Invest in Life!

Elaine Vannoy has been a regular blood donor with JMH Blood Bank for several years. Until recently she didn't know quite how much difference her donation could make. You see, on February 7th, 2008, Elaine became a Platelet donor.

Platelet donors are a special breed of blood donors.  Seeing the JMH bloodmobile in her neighborhood of Glade Spring on a regular basis made Elaine curious about donating blood. She always wanted to give but wasn't sure how, so with the help of a relative, Berbie Vannoy, a JMH Blood veteran, Elaine became a regular donor. Then several years later Elaine suffered a work related injury and was not able to donate. Another family member, Aunt Betty, had to receive platelets; this donation from someone had saved Aunt Betty’s life. Elaine felt complacent that she was not giving blood since her injury and wanted to help others. Berbie Vannoy recommended she donate platelets. Elaine came into the lab at JMH to have her blood tested to see if her platelet count was high enough, it was, and the rest is history. Elaine knows first hand how platelet donation can help save lives. "People need to take the time", she says. "Once you put it into your schedule you don’t even miss the time it takes."  Elaine put it this way, “it’s a reward I can give myself, it’s the sacrifice we need, to be able to give, to help our fellow human beings". Wow we need more Elaine Vannoy's, a lot more.