The look on a loved one’s face when they open a gift on Christmas morning is priceless. The intrigue, the joy, the potential happy tears.
But some people in Parramatta won’t have that luxury this year. Instead, they will be spending the festive season in hospital, hoping for the most important gift of all – the gift of life.
Lifeblood is encouraging every eligible blood donor to roll up their sleeves across the holiday season.
The Parramatta Donor Centre still needs 910 donors to meet patient demand.
“The hospitals are relying on us for blood supply; we need to keep the blood supply steady and running. If that doesn’t happen, it means lives are lost,” said Lakshmi Jaliyagodage, who looks after the Mobile Donor Centres in Parramatta and Penrith.
“During Christmas, while we enjoy the festive season, the need for blood does not stop. Most of the collections we collect go towards road trauma victims, cancer patients, and mothers who experience difficult childbirths.”
Unfortunately, statistics reveal that the blood donor to blood recipient ratio doesn’t match up.
“In Australia, one in three people need blood at any given time, but one in 30 people donate blood,” Jaliyagodage explained.
“Every 18 seconds, blood is needed somewhere in the country. There’s a huge demand for blood and plasma in Australia and Parramatta.”
Most healthy adults are able to donate.
“If you’re between the ages of 18 and 75 and are reasonably healthy and weigh more than 50 kilograms, you can book an appointment by calling 13 14 95 or by logging into our website or booking through our app,” Jaliyagodage encouraged.
“For Christmas, we have come up with a new bandage for all the donors who donate between now and January 4. The bandage is adorned with doves, which are a symbol of hope.”
Lifeblood Executive Director of Donor Experience Cath Stone hopes donors will wear the new bandage with pride after donating this festive season.
“This Christmas, Lifeblood invites everyone to embrace the spirit of giving. A blood donation is free and takes only an hour of your time, which could be a lifetime of happiness for someone else,” Stone finished.
Lifeblood Parramatta Donor Centre is located at 22 Oak Street, Rosehill. Book your donation today.
Ally Hall joined the team 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She is a graduate of the University of South Australia.