The family of a boy whose life was saved by plasma have urged more people to donate the blood product.
Jensen Shettler, eight, has a rare immune disorder that leaves him with not enough antibodies and can lead to cancer.
He had a stem cell transplant to reboot his immune system and needs immunoglobulin infusions until he recovers. Plasma is used to make immunoglobulin medicines, which contain antibodies.
Donations of the yellow liquid, part of blood, were halted in 1998 over fears of mad cow disease. But the NHS is restarting the programme and has launched an appeal for donors.
Hubs have been set up in London, Birmingham, and Reading, Berks, where only plasma is removed from donors using a specialist technique.
Jensen’s mum Beverley said: “The plasma has given Jensen’s immune system a boost. If he had caught anything with a weak immune system, it could have been fatal.
“Plasma donors help to save lives, just like blood donors. I would say to blood, stem cell, platelet and plasma donors… thanks for saving Jensen’s life.”
The youngster, who lives in Huddersfield, West Yorks, with Beverley, dad Jason and older brother Ethan, has X-linked lymphoproliferative type 1. He was diagnosed after suffering lymphomas.
NHS England buys immunoglobulin from abroad, costing millions but is hoping to produce more of it here with plasma-only donations.
Covid also hit supplies. NHS Blood and Transplant consultant haematologist Dr Naim Akhtar said: “We’re freezing plasma donations, to be made into immunoglobulin when a full supply chain is ready.
"This will help improve long-term supplies to the NHS, reducing the reliance on imported plasma. You have a medicine in you which has the power to save and transform someone’s life.”
