Plasma — the yellowish liquid that makes up about 55% of our blood1 — is a major component in creating lifesaving therapies for burn injury survivors, people who are immune-compromised, people with rare conditions, like hemophilia, and certain cancer patients.2 In fact, more than 125,000 Americans rely on therapies made from plasma every day,3 and to add perspective, a whopping 130 plasma donations are needed to treat one person with primary immunodeficiency for one year.4 To meet this growing need, a consistent supply from donors is crucial.
Take Oliver. When he was just 2 years old and the family had recently moved to New York, he developed a high fever, a swollen tongue, and a rash over his entire body. A visit to the emergency room resulted in a diagnosis of scarlet fever, but as Nate and Oliver were left waiting to be discharged, a serendipitous encounter with an infectious disease specialist changed everything. This doctor suggested the possibility of Kawasaki disease, a rare condition that primarily affects children under the age of five and is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children.5
Following the doctor's advice, Nate took Oliver for further tests. The subsequent ultrasound revealed a devastating diagnosis: four giant aneurysms on Oliver's coronary arteries, a severe complication that raises the risk of blood clots and can lead to a heart attack or cause bleeding inside the body.5 Nate vividly recalls the “hardest walk of my life” as he carried his son to the hospital, grappling with the terrifying reality of Oliver's critical state.
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