At age 13, Kevin’s mother died of cancer. He watched his mother go through treatment, which included blood products. At a very early age he understood the importance of blood donation and started donating when he was 19 years old – and he has not stopped since. Kevin comes in faithfully every two weeks to donate platelets, which are vital in the treatment of cancer. Kevin has made approximately 700 donations and he is a 155 gallon donor – one of the highest in the country! SunCoast is grateful to our loyal donors and for the thousands of lives they have saved.
Receive a $20 Amazon gift card with every platelet donation.
Schedule your platelet donation today!
Through our partnerships with the Moffitt Cancer Center, Florida Cancer Specialists and Sarasota Cancer Center (coming soon), your platelet donation will have an immediate and significant impact on a cancer patient’s life. In fact, more than 50 percent of platelet donations go to patients to fight and survive cancer. Kevin and many others throughout our community have experienced the challenges of cancer and are doing their part to make a difference.
When you donate platelets, you don’t just save a patient, you save a family.
As a token of our appreciation for your gift, you will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card each time you donate.
Help Fulfill an Urgent Need
Did You Know… LESS THAN 2% of our population PROVIDES 100% of our platelet needs — and a platelet transfusion can be the difference between life and death?
What Are Platelets?
Platelets, which aid the clotting process, are critical in the treatment of cancer patients, trauma victims, surgical patients and certain blood disorders. Thousands of patients in our community, ranging from newborn babies to seniors, require platelets every year.
Consider this…
- Platelets are only viable for 5 days and the need in our community is tremendous.
- Platelets are critically important to the survival of patients with leukemia, cancer, clotting problems, aplastic anemia, and patients who undergo major procedures such as open-heart surgeries.
- One serious trauma or illness can deplete a hospital’s supply of platelets.
You can donate platelets every 2 weeks,
up to 24 times per year.
What to Expect During a Platelet Donation
The platelet apheresis (pronounced a-fer-EE-sis) procedure separates platelets from your blood and returns your red cells and plasma along with additional fluids back to you. Platelets aid the clotting process and are critical in the treatment of cancer patients, trauma victims, surgical patients, and people with certain blood disorders. Platelets are constantly replaced in our bodies and are replenished within a few days of your donation. It helps to eat a well-balanced meal beforehand, including iron-rich foods, but avoid consuming fatty foods, dairy products and aspirin.
How Long Does it Take?
Donating platelets takes 1.5 to 2 hours, so we want to be sure you’re comfortable throughout the process. Our donor centers and platelet bus are designed to provide an environment where you can relax, watch a movie, read a book, chat with fellow donors, or simply enjoy some “me” time while performing a vital, lifesaving service.
TYPE AB DONORS
Your platelets are the most vital of all. That’s because AB platelet donors are known as “Universal” donors, as anyone can receive platelets from an AB platelet donor. In addition, newborns in crisis can ONLY receive platelets from type AB donors.
What is the most important thing you need to know about platelet donation?
Within five days, someone in our community will receive your platelets and you will help save the life of a child or adult battling cancer, or an open-heart surgical patient, trauma victim or a newborn baby experiencing complications at birth.
There is no artificial substitute for platelets – the only source is a healthy, human donor.
- One drop of blood contains as many as 15,000,000- 40,000,000 platelets.
- Platelet donors can give more often (up to 24 times per year) because their red blood cells are returned to them during the donation process.
- A cancer patient can use one to three units of platelets per day while undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
Schedule your platelet donation today!
