Before using plasma therapy for my rare autoimmune disorder, I couldn’t even get out of bed on some days. I’m just very grateful for the people who take the time to donate plasma.
My condition got so bad, I was wheelchair-bound
When I turned 27, I started to lose my ability to walk and use my hands. I couldn’t take care of myself and became wheelchair-bound. Steroids and rehab worked for a while, but then the symptoms returned. I was experiencing debilitating weakness and had no energy. I also had numbness, tingling, and what felt like electric shocks. I was subsequently diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.
Plasma therapy changed my life
I was given intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) plasma infusions. They took a lot of time to administer, so I had a home health nurse come in to help. The infusions changed my life. To make things easier, I switched to a different type of plasma product that is given under my skin. Now I can infuse myself, which allows me to work a full-time job and do the things I enjoy.
I donated plasma in college but never thought I’d need it myself
Back in college, my roommates and I were plasma donors. Fast forward, and it’s mind-boggling to me that the very product I used to donate is something that’s been so important in my life. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to thrive the way I do now.
“I was in a near death situation after a gastric bypass and needed blood. I don’t think people really know that 30 minutes, or however long it is, to make a donation can forever impact someone else’s life.”