Red Cross Recognizes Donors for Giving the “Gift of Hope”

WEST HENRIETTA, NY (04/25/2008)(readMedia)-- The American Red Cross Blood Services, New York-Penn Region, will honor 80 individuals for their many contributions as platelet and plasma donors on Wednesday, Apr. 30, at the Italian American Community Center, 257 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany, from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Patients suffering from cancer, leukemia, aplastic anemia, or trauma or who are in need of transplant or bypass surgery benefit most from either platelet or plasma transfusions. This special type of donation is referred to as apheresis and it allows a donor to give only one part of his or her blood: platelets, plasma, granulocytes (white blood cells that have granules in the cytoplasm), or red blood cells. The needed component is retained, and the rest is returned back to the donor.

Guest speakers at the event include: Samuel S. Ciccio, M.D., former professor, radiology; vice president academic affairs, executive vice president, executive dean and acting dean, Albany Medical College; George P. Kansas, attorney, performance advisor, and owner, Leadership Motivation, LLC; and Michelle Johnston, Red Cross Site Supervisor, Albany District, New York-Penn Region.

All current eligible and new donors are urged to schedule and keep appointments to donate platelets or plasma today by calling 1-800-545-4086, or by visiting www.DonateBloodNow.org/Apheresis. Anyone 17 years or older, weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health may be eligible to donate.

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