Forum: Current Events Topic: Did anyone else see this story?? started by: Clovis Posted by Clovis on Apr. 14 2004,8:50 pm
From the Miami Herald...(http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/8414920.htm?1c)
Here are the websites of the Columbia papers that the Miami article talks about - < http://www.digmo.org > is the Missourian, and the other paper (the Daily Tribune) is at < http://www.showmenews.com. > I found the original articles in their online archives. Posted by repdan on Apr. 14 2004,10:21 pm
What a sad comment.I wonder how many people read all the questions that they are asked before they give. I was kicked out because of having visited parts of Mexico and Central America. Posted by kid dyn-o-mite on Apr. 14 2004,10:38 pm
*note to self...do not contaminate blood by visiting third world countries
Posted by Clovis on Apr. 15 2004,7:10 am
I don't think it's just third world countries anymore. If I recall correctly, if you lived in Europe for more than 4 months before 1984(? - I could have my year off by one or two here), you're ineligible as well.
Posted by Liberal on Apr. 15 2004,9:13 am
In the mid 80's I went through jungle school in Panama and before I went there the Army gave me 18 injections to vaccinate me against different diseases. After I got back the next time I went to give blood I told them I had recently deployed to Panama and they told me they didn't want my blood anymore. About 5 -7 years later I was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. The disorder I have causes my immune system to create antibodies to my platelets and even though I can't give it to people permanantly, if you were to transfuse somebody with my blood they could develop it short term like for like a week or two. But a person that is in the position of needing a blood transfusion certainly doesn't want to become a bleeder for even a week or two. What's strange is when it got bad and I had to start seeing a hematologist at Mayo the first question they asked me was is if I had ever traveled to central america. Then they started doing tests on my spleen, my bone marrow and everything else you can imagine. But the whole time the test were geared towards a disease that I had picked up in central america. After a couple weeks of going to the doctor daily I found out I had a first cousin in kentucky that had the same problem since she was 18 months old and since I had a first cousin with the same rare blood disorder it's automatically diagnosed as genetic. So they took my spleen out(it's where your body stores platelets) and my blood counts have remained pretty normal for 5-6 years now. But, if the Red Cross didn't have such strict rules about travel I could have easily been donating blood for another 5-7 years and my blood could have possibly really hurt someone, so, I guess it's a good thing they are cautious. Posted by Clovis on Apr. 15 2004,1:28 pm
Geez, Liberal... that blood disorder sounds awful. The fact that someone can "temporarily" get it is just scary! Do you know if the Red Cross currently screens for that particular disorder in the blood supply? Posted by kid dyn-o-mite on Apr. 15 2004,1:40 pm
1. Yes, it certainly appears genetic and probably is.2. Those shots aren't "free" though. People often don't realize the impact shots like that have on the body. |