{"id":24891,"date":"2022-04-13T08:00:50","date_gmt":"2022-04-13T14:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=24891"},"modified":"2022-04-13T09:09:02","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T15:09:02","slug":"donating-platelets-way-to-save-lives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/donating-platelets-way-to-save-lives\/","title":{"rendered":"Donating platelets a way for this retiree to give back to his community and save lives"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"Simon
Simon Turner celebrates his 71st time donating platelets in June 2019. In March 2022, he celebrated his 100th donation. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Anthony \u201cSimon\u201d Turner has a standing date with a needle. And he couldn\u2019t be more excited about it.<\/p>\n

With a shelf life of only 5 days and essential for cancer patients, platelet donors are always in high demand. Schedule a donation appointment today using this form<\/a>.<\/strong><\/div>\n

Since 2013, Turner has visited UCHealth Garth Englund Blood Donation Center<\/a> more than 100 times to give up his platelets, plasma and red blood cells, doing his part to replenish this northern Colorado\u2019s much-needed resource.<\/p>\n

Turner\u2019s ultimate number may end up someday being a record, but that\u2019s not the point. Because of his consistency, his community is healthier.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reason I\u2019m so passionate about it is that I understand the biology of how important this is,\u201d Turner said. \u201cEspecially for transplant patients and cancer patients.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Simon,
Simon Turner will tell anyone who listens about the importance of donating blood, and even invite them to watch so they’re not scared of the process. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A retired professor of veterinary medicine at Colorado State University<\/a>, Turner has spent much of his 30-plus year career doing research using animals, like sheep, as a model for human diseases to help develop treatments for diseases like osteoporosis<\/a>. As such, he has personally witnessed the benefits of blood donation on his furrier patients and considers his ability to share his vital fluids so prodigiously a privilege, and even a responsibility.<\/p>\n

Living several blocks away from the blood donation center doesn\u2019t hurt either. The physically fit and energetic 72-year old said he often books his two-hour appointments with a detour to the grocery store and lunch.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a no-brainer,\u201d Turner gushed.<\/p>\n

In the nine years since he began donating, Turner typically has given red blood cells about every other month and platelets and plasma every month, waiting the minimum required time<\/a> between donations.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a bored retiree and it\u2019s walking distance from my house,\u201d he joked. \u201cWhat more could you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

The importance of donating platelets<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Platelets are continuously in high demand in northern Colorado, according to Anna Johnson, manager of laboratory services at the Garth Englund Blood Donation Centers. What comes through the centers in Fort Collins and Loveland stays in the area to treat patients.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe love our donors, but we need more to be able to keep up with the demand at the hospitals,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWe only have so many in our database who donate platelets on a regular basis and the bottom line is that platelet transfusions are outnumbering the donations we\u2019re getting.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Johnson, platelet transfusions have sustained an upward trend. The weekly target level for donations is 25 units\/week, with the eventual hope to shift that target to 32.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne whole blood donation (one pint) can treat, heal, and very well save the life of up to three different patients,\u201d she said. \u201cOur goal is to be completely 100% supported by our own donors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Simon
Simon Turner donates platelets for the 100th time and celebrates with the donation center team who has grown to know Simon over the years. Photo by Anna Johnson, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Every drop of blood helps<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Blood is composed of several important components. Plasma is the base, made up mostly of water. Red blood cells pick up oxygen from the lungs and transport it via the circulatory system to every cell in the body, providing energy. Platelets help the blood clot to reduce bleeding after injury, the first step toward healing damaged tissues. Each of the parts can be safely transfused to patients who need them when in the hospital.<\/p>\n

The year-round need for blood products exists mostly for those with chronic diseases, especially cancer patients, who often need platelet transfusions, Johnson said.<\/p>\n

But warmer weather brings more outdoor activity and more accidents, especially motorcycle and car wrecks, which make the demand for blood supplies and platelet supplies even more severe.<\/p>\n

So, when the effervescent Turner shows up for his standing date, brandishing a homemade lasagna, the blood bank staff can\u2019t thank him enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimon is very passionate about donating, and we love that,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe loves the community aspect of it,\u201d she continued. \u201cWe know that people like Simon are making a difference because without us having platelets in stock in the laboratory or available from purchase from outside blood banks, a lot of patients could suffer serious consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Simon
Simon Turner gets checked at the UCHealth Garth England Blood Donation Center, 1025 Pennock Place, #104, in Fort Collins, in June 2019. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Make donating platelets a habit – 12 times a year<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A native of Australia, Turner can\u2019t quite remember what prompted his initial visit to Garth Englund or what spurred his zeal to start his impressive streak. He does, however, recall two hospital visits after bike accidents, eight and 28 years ago, that helped him realize the perpetual need to help out his neighbors.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw people rolling around in wheelchairs, and amputees from war injuries, and that was a wake-up call,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Donating blood requires an appointment because the process can take one to two hours depending on what you\u2019re donating. All donors fill out a questionnaire each time to ensure that they qualify based on their health, specifically relating to their disease history. That is followed by an interview with a phlebotomist, the health care professional who draws the blood, to obtain even more details.<\/p>\n

First-time “apheresis” donations\u2014 as platelet and plasma donors are called \u2014 also get a platelet count, to make sure they are healthy enough to give. Females have an extra test to see if they are positive or negative, which takes about a week to get results.<\/p>\n

The redundancy in eligibility requirements, Johnson said, ensures that the donation is safe for both the blood donor and potential recipient.<\/p>\n

Come one, come all to the donor centers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Donors of all blood types are encouraged.<\/p>\n

\"Simon
Simon Turner donates platelets for the 100th time. Photo by Anna Johnson, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Blood needs can depend on timing and what is currently available. The most desired types of blood for red cells are O-negative and positive and type AB and B for platelet donors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll always take (blood) platelets,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n

After the registration process, someone checks your vital signs, explains the process thoroughly, and the apheresis donor gets hooked up to a machine \u2014 which Turner raves about.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very impressive. You can\u2019t just walk up and buy it at Sears,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve talked to friends and told them to watch me all hooked up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Donors can watch television, read or use their portable devices as diversions. Turner prefers to listen to CDs \u2014 classics like the Glenn Miller Orchestra and 1960s rock and roll \u2014 and chats up the techs and employees.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll bring you heated blankets, water, juice, Gatorade, tums, whatever you need to feel comfortable,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cBecause here\u2019s the bottom line: Platelets save lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Good health has him helping others in need<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As an avid, lifetime athlete, who swims regularly, has run nine marathons, biked and cross country skied, Turner feels that his good health requires him to give back to his community.<\/p>\n

While he is clearly unafraid of the donation process, he also understands why people without a medical background would be squeamish. Some people fear needles, worry about giving up blood or feel they don’t have time.<\/p>\n

But Turner said he\u2019s had no adverse effects, either during or after the process, and can even begin exercising within hours of each donation (although strenuous exercise should be avoided that day). In fact, when cruising the aisles at the market afterward, he makes a point to show off the cotton swab taped to the front of his right elbow, just so people will ask about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ll say, \u2018What happened to him?\u2019\u201d Turner said in a slow whisper, leaning in close. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll respond, \u2018I donated blood \u2026 and you should too.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Then, Turner puts it a bit differently. \u201cI\u2019m big on helping my fellow man. And I\u2019m going to keep going until the day I die.\u201d<\/p>\n

(This story was originally written in June 2019 but was updated to reflect Turner’s 100th platelet donation at Garth Englund Blood Donation Center. All donors and staff are required to wear masks at the donation centers.)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Anthony \u201cSimon\u201d Turner has a standing date with a needle. And he couldn\u2019t be more excited about it. Since 2013, Turner has visited UCHealth Garth Englund Blood Donation Center more than 100 times to give up his platelets, plasma and red blood cells, doing his part to replenish this northern Colorado\u2019s much-needed resource. Turner\u2019s ultimate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":63429,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[146,3305,895],"class_list":["post-24891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-blood-donation","tag-donating-blood","tag-garth-englund-blood-donation-center"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDonating platelets a way for this retiree to save lives - UCHealth Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Retired CSU veterinarian professor Simon Turner understood the need to donate platelets, so he made it a habit. 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