Blood Donations

A lot of folks have asked how they can help -- here's how. As part of Anna's transplant process, Anna and many other patients just like her need blood and platelets. The hospital has a program where you can have a "directed donation", whereby assuming you are a match and pass the screening, your blood or plateletes can be donated directly to Anna. If you are not a match, then the donation is put into the general pool and helps someone else. If you are interested, the information is below. Please read through, and contact Nadia. She's really cool. I talked with her earlier this week to get everything setup.
 
 

 
 
Hackensack University Medical Center
Blood Bank/Blood Donor Service
30 Prospect Avenue
Hackensack, N.J. 07601 
 
Dear Family & Friends, 
 
      Anna Gaffney is a transplant patient at Hackensack University Medical Center. During the transplant process, there will be an on-going need for blood and platelet donations. Non-blood relatives and friends may donate blood prior to and or during the process. Blood relatives may donate beginning the day of transplant. 

1. During the week before transplant, 2 to 3 whole blood donors will be needed. 

2. Beginning on the day of transplant, 3 whole blood donors per week will be needed.

3. Beginning on the day of the transplant, 2 platelet donors per day will be needed. 

Remember, every patient is different and their needs may vary. 
 
Whole blood donors need to be one of the following blood types:
(If you do not know your blood type, you may still donate and it will be tested for compatibility): 
A+, A-, O+, and O- 
 
Platelet donors need to be one of the following types: 
Anyone can donate platelets; they are not blood type specific
 
 
Some other pertinent information: 
-Units of Blood last for 42 days:
-Units of Platelets last for 5 days: 
-Blood donation takes 1 hour from start to finish:
-Platelet donation takes 3 hours from start to finish: 
- Donors can donate blood and or platelets every 72 hours for the same patient only; as long as they qualify: 
-All blood and platelet donations will be held directly for the patient; as long as the products are compatible.  
Patient’s physician may release products if not needed before expiration to help another patient in need. 
 
Preparation for Donation: 
-Please eat at least 1 hour before coming in to donate:
-Please drink plenty of fluids: (water, juice, milk, etc.)
-Please bring a government issued I.D. with signature: (such as a license,
  passport, social security card, etc.)
-Please refrain from having aspirin for 3 days prior to donating platelets:
(Tylenol is the only thing that is okay; advil and ibuprophen are not) 
Contact Information:  
      If you are interested in donating blood and or platelets, you may do so by contacting the Blood Donor Room. Please call Nadia Nahnooch at
(201) 996-4819 to arrange an appointment and to be pre-screened to make sure you qualify to donate. 
Nadia Nahnooch
Blood Donor Room
Phone#: (201) 996-4819:
Fax#: (201) 996-2495:
nnahnooch@humed.com