Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

I started my 3 day chemo cycle today and they told me I needed blood. It was put as "2 units are essential, 4 would be better".

But the blood bank have no O+ in stock so I am thrown back on my own resources. After the success of my appeal for platelets on Kibkom this is my first point of call. If you can help then please donate at one of the blood banks and state that it is for:-

John Anderson
Oncology Ward
Lefkosa State Hospital

Sorry - too weak to write any more now.

Thanks in anticipation

Shared as before John.

Take care.

Regards
Judy & Michael

Ditto

On the BRS site it states that the upper age limit is 68. I am O negative, in good health as far as I know, prepared to give blood but I am 71. Are they likely to accept me for John if I turn up at Lefkosia hospital, does anyone know please?

sylvester wrote:On the BRS site it states that the upper age limit is 68. I am O negative, in good health as far as I know, prepared to give blood but I am 71. Are they likely to accept me for John if I turn up at Lefkosia hospital, does anyone know please?

sylvester, there is a discussıon here on the forum which has attempted to gather together all the known factors affectıng blood donations in TRNC, and which you might find helpful.

I wish I were there, I am 0+ and a regular donor and age 60 (have my silver award in the uk) but that is where I am now until October.

I hope some people can come forward to help you

Sylvester

Between 68 and 70 you can give 1 time per year. After 70 then I am afraid not. But I will be at Lefkosa blood bank tomorrow (Friday) and I will ask if an exception is possible.

In the mean time thank you for offering.

John

Hi John, thank you very much also for offering to help me in solving this issue, much appreciated,

I have 2 donations now so that is the emergency dealt with; but if anyone can help next week I would still be much better off for another 2 units.

Thank you to Sarah and her husband - Sarah saw my appeal here and her husband donated the blood.

The second thanks is to the CESV-112 (Civil Defence Volunteers) group who have recently taken over management of the BRS blood donor database - they found me a donor with 4 mins of my telephoning them. You can read about them here http://www.cesvtrnc.com/ .......................and they are always looking for additional volunteers if you have any spare time.

Thank you people for being Kibkomers.

I was given the other 2 blood yesterday - but sadly from the blood bank with no matching donations.

It doesn't help that Girne blood bank doesn't seem to be functioning. A lady went 2 times once about 8:30am and the next day at 3pm - both times she was told 'closed'. I hope she will persist - I need this help so badly. If there is anyone out there who can donate a unit of O+ then please please help me. I know I've had the blood, but my debt now to the blood bank is 18 units and I can't believe they will keep supplying me if I don't reduce that somewhat.

Thank you!

I was told that Girne Blood bank is only open in the mornings. 10 to 12.30 I think it was. Anyway very short hours partly because apparently the blood is sent to Lefkoşa blood bank at one o'clock.

Went this morning, told no nurse until Monday. Will try Lefkosa next time we are through, Girne is too hit and miss.

This appalling state of affairs with the availability of the blood bank in Girne State Hospital must, surely, be addressed to somebody in authority either there or in the Health Ministry? Sadly, I am now past my 'sell date' for blood donation, but the 'friggin around' of volunteers at Girne beggars belief. Are they there to provide a service or what?

Can anybody here recommend to whom this issue should be addressed to, please?

My husband has been twice to lefkosa now to donate for this man and twice he has been turned away. Feeling so helpless at the moment.

Ref msg 14 above, was he given an explanation for their refusal to accept his blood?

If I am not mistaken from reading these posts I can, being O+, donate blood specifically for this gentleman at Girne Hospital between 10.30 and noon providing there is a nurse there. I am going to Girne and will try. The only problem is that I am taking antihistamines at the moment, is that a problem and if so how long must I be "drug free" before donating?

Think you're OK.

See https://my.blood.co.uk/knowledgebase/

However, from personal experience it may be best not to mention it at Girne as they don't seem to know what is and isn't acceptable.

tomsteel wrote:Ref msg 14 above, was he given an explanation for their refusal to accept his blood?

yes, as they were not sure if he medication was ok. We had looked it up online before offering to help and it is 100% safe.

Sorry - I lost track of this thread as I hadn't realised it had become a sticky. I have been wracking my brains to try and think of something sensible to add and so not break the BTT rules.

Firstly, a long delayed answer for Sylvester - I'm sorry but they are adamant, no donations over 70. Thanks for trying though.

Girne is in trouble, their senior blood taker has retired and they only have 1 other and she is/has been on holiday. Maybe it will improve when she returns but maybe not. (Of course they couldn't possibly predict that someone would retire and get a replacement trained in time.) Tomsteel - Girne Blood Bank is managed by Girne Hospital. Although the various blood banks co-operate they do not have a central management - each is managed by its parent hospital.

August is a nightmare time for the TRNC civil service as it is the traditional month for holidays in Cyprus and many many staff take leave. All the hospitals and their ancillary services suffer. Which is maybe why 'madeincyprus's husband had problems at Lefkosa. The one who seems to really know about medication is Ozge and if she was on holiday then I suspect the others would be nervous to decree on a matter of medication. If he phones Lefkosa blood bank (0392 228 5441 and ext. 1070 or 1071) and asks for Ozge (she speaks excellent English) then at least he will be spared further unnecessary trips.

Thank you all for being so persistent. I can understand how aggravating such problems can be when all you are trying to do is help someone - and a stranger at that.

The problem never ends for me - in practice I need about 1 unit per week, that is 16 donors permanently dedicated to giving me blood. Plus the occasional platelets. I can only pray that the chemo starts to have some effect and I start producing my own blood again. My next round of chemo starts on 7/9 and almost certainly I will need another 2 or 3 units of blood again - but where to find it?

Usually, by the time I start chemo, I am as weak as a kitten and, if the blood banks can't help me, it is a real struggle to do the searching to find the help I need. The red blood cells, which I am lacking, are the ones that distribute oxygen around the body. When there is not enough oxygen available the brain concentrates it on itself and the major organs and the muscles have to do without. Thus walking, and eventually even standing, become a real problem. I have a magic team of volunteers, provided by Tulips, who get me to the hospital and up to the ward on each of the 3 days. Without them I would be totally lost as, although I can drive, it is impossible to park within 500 metres of the hospital doors - a distance I could never manage to walk. After blood I get an immediate boost and can manage quite well by myself for 2 or 3 weeks - cooking meals, doing shopping etc. - but then the rot sets in and everything starts to become difficult again.

I'm not moaning, that's life, but just so you can understand the background of the man you are helping.

Thank you all.

JBA, whilst not a sufferer of your condition, I do admire your persistence and courage. My point was to whom do I address this woeful state of affairs? I am past the sell by blood date and not even O of either group. However if willing volunteers are being turned away for some spurious, pathetic, wrong time, cannot be arsed attitude, I would like to bring this fact to the management - hence my post. My very best wishes.

tomsteel - thank you for your kind words.

As I said, Girne Hospital management are the ones to talk to but I have no names or phone numbers I'm afraid.

Finally managed to donate at Lefkosa this morning, made sure they were informed it was for John Anderson. Bit of a wobble as my blood pressure was a bit low but a quick cup of a Nescafe boosted it nicely. Don't forget to have a good breakfast before donating otherwise they will send you away or along to the cafe in the building.

Thank you so much for your persistence come-on-aylin.

The whole cycle starts again on Wednesday which is the first of my 3 chemo days. The doctor will want to give me blood but I haven't even repaid last month's yet never mind got any donation for this month. And all this happens when I am at my weakest because I don't have enough blood in my body.

But I cannot give up. It's quite simple, if I give up then I die.

JBA...in hope I have requested & been allowed to put your request on Hope4Pets....we spend all our time hoping & caring for our 4 legged friends maybe we can help a 2 legged friend....

JBA, try and get the English-speaking and Turkish newspapers, BRT, TV stations etc to make an appeal to their readers/audiences. You might just get a positive feedback.

Thank you Cally. I can get on my hands and knees and beg if it will help but I must probably draw the line at gnawing Bonios.

tomsteel. I had been advised that Cyprus Today were interested in doing an article on myself and another man in a similar situation - but that was a week ago and I have heard nothing further. CT is probably my best bet, if they are interested, because of the language barrier but I don't know who within CT was interested so I must wait for a contact from them. Also, UK citizens are more accustomed to donating for strangers whereas here the culture is to donate for the family. In an emergency the blood bank give the blood and the family come along later and replenish the supplies; if it is a scheduled procedure then the family donate the blood in advance.

Trying to interest local papers and then deal with any responses is difficult when I don't speak Turkish (shame on me after 11 years). But in truth I would like some reassurance that Girne is working normally before trying any other mass appeal - they cost me 3 donors (although come-on aylin subsequently went to Lefkosa to donate). There are just too few donors around for me to lose them that way.

JBA, there are many 'London Turks' here. They are well used to the UK blood donor system and speak Turkish and could translate for you. Try the CT editor, she may get a reporter to do the article, as it may just have slipped through the gaps.

JBA wrote:I started my 3 day chemo cycle today and they told me I needed blood. It was put as "2 units are essential, 4 would be better".

But the blood bank have no O+ in stock so I am thrown back on my own resources. After the success of my appeal for platelets on Kibkom this is my first point of call. If you can help then please donate at one of the blood banks and state that it is for:-

John Anderson
Oncology Ward
Lefkosa State Hospital

Sorry - too weak to write any more now.

Thanks in anticipation

John I have found 4 people with your blood group in Gonyeli area and advised them to give blood for you at Lefkosa State Hospital. Will let you know when one gets there.

I have just heard from a LL (using discretion re full name) via Hope4Pets fb page & given her the details in above message.
Good luck John

Thank you Cally and Lurucinali

I have heard back from LL & she is donating on Tuesday....

I have also heard from an O neg lady offering, can you use this?

Cally

I can't use O neg BUT...

...Stephen Collard of CESV (the Civil Defence Volunteers) keeps a register of potential blood donors who can be contacted in an emergency (this is the old BRS register). O neg is a very rare blood type and I am sure Stephen would be delighted to have this lady's details on file as her blood could be invaluable in certain circumstances. She would only be asked in an emergency and she would be certain that she is helping someone in real trouble.

Steve can be contacted on stephencollard57@hotmail.com

I don't think O neg is all that rare (I have it) , it is the fact that it can be given in emergencies to almost anyone. I will pass on this info though, so at least someone else may benefit ....

The lady going to donate is unfortunately not able to, in a further post she said she was 71 so I sent her the number from an earlier message to ask if she could. They were quite adamant in their answer, NO makes me wonder if it were their own loved one desperate for blood whether they would take the same stance.
I hope you achieve the number of units required

Thanks anyway Cally. It is the same in the UK; 70 is the oldest they will take a blood donation and then only if the donor has given before - otherwise it is 68.

OK - I am square with the blood bank for last month now and I have a promised donation on Thursday.

Thanks to S and her husband.

If just 2 of Lurucinali's people deliver then I will be OK this month.

I hope you achieve your target & some, the post on fb is still being shared, so fingers crossed.
I will find out next year how much they want my blood

JBA wrote:OK - I am square with the blood bank for last month now and I have a promised donation on Thursday.

Thanks to S and her husband.

If just 2 of Lurucinali's people deliver then I will be OK this month.

I think at least one will be there tomorrow. I have told them how urgent this is and also publicised it elsehwere in another forum.

Thank you so much Lurucinali. I may not always agree with your views on general forum topics but I am immensely grateful that you would go to this trouble for me.

Unfortunately two of the people I found cannot give blood on medical grounds, the other two can and hope that one does make it today. I will chase them up to remind them. If you can return to London for treatment I will be glad to give you blood when ever you needed it. Next time I am in Cyprus I will pop into the hosptial to donate all I can.

When it comes to agreement on other subjects, if we all agreed the forum would be a very bodring place. Debate is the spice of life so long as it is done respectfully and does not disintigrate to the gutter.

I got called in urgently to Lefkosa hospital today as they had a spare unit of O+ platelets that they thought would benefit me - but they were getting a bit near their expiry.

While I was there they acknowledged they have 2 units of blood that the doctor requested for me, but they weren't expecting me until Wednesday and they hadn't prepared them for transfusion. I will get them Wednesday with the first dose of chemo.

Thanks again people.

Lurucinali

I checked with the blood bank today and they have received no donations that we hadn't expected. What happened to your volunteers? - they were important to me and I had stopped looking for next month having expected those 2 donations.

John Anderson is in Lefkosa State Hospital and urgently needs 4 units of O positive blood. Please could anyone who is able to help, contact Jayne Matter - Tulips Support Worker on 0542 882 6063.

If you are able to donate, John would be very grateful. If possible, please go to Lefkosa State Hospital and say that you are donating for John Anderson, who is in the Oncology Unit. This really is a desperate situation and we are appealing for help from all you kind souls out there.

Thank you very much.

Hi,am I new on this forum,I have registered specifically so I can come and donate blood,I've got O+ type blood. I am 60 yr old and I don't have any serious health problems .I don't orientate well around Cyprus I am from Tatlisu and not sure where I would need to go to donate blood.Jayne Matter is not answering her phone,today is Saturday and I'm not sure if blood donation centres are open today or tomorrow and on Thursday we are going back to England.I am Russian with British citizenship.

Panic over - I have what I need for now (despite Girne Blood Bank losing me yet another donor).

Special thanks to Steve Collard who now runs the old BRS Donor database.

Apologies to Mila. Jayne Matter was in Istanbul over the weekend and her phone was on divert to a colleague. The divert must have failed. Please contact Steve Collard on 0533 855 5699 to register for the blood donor database.

Many thanks to all the people who came forward and donated for John.