Grateful mum backs blood buddies plea

Aug 26 2009 Heswall News

A WIRRAL mother is supporting a new blood donation campaign after transfusions saved her baby son’s life.

Jack Hayhoe, 17 months, was diagnosed with a life-threatening blood condition at birth and needed several transfusions to keep him alive.

The toddler is now recovering well from a bone marrow transplant performed last month. His mother Mandy, 33, from Hoylake, is urging people to give blood and also platelets – small cells that help blood to clot.

She said: “It’s so important to give blood, but it’s also important to give platelets. Platelets can only be stored for a few days, which means that the blood service needs more frequent platelet donors.”

A new campaign called Blood Buddies has been launched, encouraging donors to bring their friends, colleagues or relatives to donate with them.

Hospitals in Liverpool need 280 units of blood each day and it is hoped the campaign will help build up blood stocks in preparation for the flu season.

Jack suffers from Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, a rare immune deficiency affecting one in four million people.

One of its symptoms is a lack of platelets, which can lead to serious blood loss from the smallest of scratches.

Mrs Hayhoe added: “Every time Jack needed a transplant there was a chance that there wouldn’t be enough for him and we’d have to wait, which left him in a life-threatening condition.

“If everyone who donated blood brought a friend with them and asked if they are able to give platelets too, there’d be twice the chance that the National Blood Service could find another life-saving platelet donor.”

Anyone who would like to donate blood should ring 0300 123 23 23 or go to www.blood.co.uk to make an appointment.