Lifelines (Spring 2001) - 300 Apheresis Donations and Counting

Donors Saving Lives: 300 Apheresis Donations and Counting


	OGeorge Burwasser and BCP staff

George Burwasser, recently achieved his 300th milestone as an apheresis donor at BCP's Downtown Center. We asked George how he got involved in the program and to tell us about his com-mitment to helping save lives.

George started donating blood when he was a student at the University in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in the mid 1960's. Later, as a geologist in Toronto, he and the crew would make regular trips to the blood bank. In those days, a donor was only allowed to give every 13 weeks. If one missed their due date, they had to wait another 13 weeks before they could give again.

It occurred to George that there must be other ways a donor could help, and he began to inquire at the blood bank. The nurses told him about their Leukopheresis program and he agreed to sign up. His blood was HLA typed (Human Leukocyte Antigen), and he was put on a waiting list for their call. Leukocytes are a part of the white blood cell system and are used when a patient is critically ill and unable to fight off infection. Up until this time, the Canadian blood bank did not have a platelet apheresis program.

The technology for procuring these precious cells was laborious and time consuming. A unit of blood was drawn, run to the lab where the white cells were spun off, and then the remainder of the donor's blood was carried back and reinfused. This had to be done six times before a full therapeutic dose could be collected. George remarked, "Things have come a long way since then!"

In the early 1980's, George moved to San Francisco and became a donor at the Irwin Center. He donated two whole blood donations and six to eight apheresis donations per year, and continued this routine until the late 80's when he suffered a serious back injury. Walking became a part of his therapy, and three times a week he walked right past the blood center on his way to the hospital. One day a light bulb went off, and he realized how easy it would be to begin giving even more often.

Ever since then, George has been donating apheresis every two weeks, which amounts to 24 donations per year! This is a huge commitment and his generosity has saved countless lives. George feels that giving apheresis donations is a wonderful way to stay connected to the community, and "it makes you feel good!" BCP is very grateful to George's commitment and to others like him. Without caring apheresis donors like George, BCP could not provide these lifesaving transfusions to patients in need. A million thanks!