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Uploaded: Thursday, February 21, 2013, 8:47 AM
Boy's death sparks blood donations
O-negative blood type in demand due to influenza
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by Sue Dremann
Palo Alto Weekly Staff
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| The death of a 10-year-old boy from complications following influenza has sparked a request from his family for local donations of the blood type.
Joshua Mark Hansen was like any boy until he contracted a Type B influenza and strep throat more than two weeks ago. A resident of Ausberry, Calif., near Fresno, he was a vibrant kid who played all kinds of sports and rode dirt bikes. But on Sunday morning, Feb. 3, he struggled to breathe and developed bacterial pneumonia, according to his uncle Rod Hansen.
Joshua was flown from Valley Children's Hospital to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, where he was put on life support and received several units of rare O-negative blood each day, Hansen said. Supplies from the Stanford Blood Center were running low due to high demand from flu victims and winter accidents, so the Central California Blood Center in Northwest Fresno started a blood drive to help him.
Although Joshua died on Feb. 18 at the hospital, his family is encouraging Palo Alto and other local communities to donate blood of any type -- especially O-negative -- to the Stanford Blood Center to help other needy patients in Joshua's memory, said Missy Hansen, his aunt.
While Joshua was at Packard, he used many units of blood from the Stanford center. People from all over the state donated 199 units of O-negative blood, and the blood bank received 460 additional units of other blood types in Joshua's name while he was ill, she said.
"Mark and Monica (Joshua's parents) would like to thank all of the people that worked on Josh. From the nurses, doctors, support staff. There were 100, Mark estimates. They are forever grateful for the care that was provided Joshua but also the care that was extended to them," Missy Hansen said in an email.
The family is also asking that people sign up as organ donors, as they saw first-hand the relief and joy a donated organ brought to another family while at Packard, whose son's life was saved after waiting for a month, she said.
While O-negative is urgently needed, all other blood types are also in reduced supply, Stanford Blood Center spokesperson Dayna Kerecman Myers said. The blood bank supplies Packard and Stanford hospitals, as well as other area institutions, she said.
Stanford Blood Center's supply became critically low in late January due to the winter holidays and the flu outbreak. The blood supply remains low, despite outreach to O-negative donors, she said.
O-negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to anyone. It is vital for trauma patients who sometimes need transfusions before there is an opportunity for blood typing, she said.
However, O-negative patients can only receive blood from O-negative donors, and only about 6 percent of people have this blood type, she added.
Approximately half of Stanford Blood Center's supply of O-negative blood is designated for neonatal patients.
Rod Hansen said the experience with Joshua opened his eyes to the ongoing need for blood.
"It's selfish of us," he said of not donating, adding that it takes little time and saves people's lives.
Hansen has heard from many people who donated for Joshua. Many said it was their first time giving blood. Hansen also donated for the first time and plans to become a lifelong donor, he said.
Persons donating blood must be in good health without cold or flu symptoms. Donors must eat well and drink fluids before coming to the center and present photo identification at the time of donation. The process takes about an hour, Myers said.
Donors can give blood at one of the center's locations: 3373 Hillview Ave., Palo Alto; 515 South Drive, Suite 20, Mountain View; or 445 Burgess Drive, Menlo Park. More information and appointments are available at Stanford Blood Center. Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by LongTimeDonor, a resident of Mountain View, on Feb 21, 2013 at 10:21 am As an O- donor for over 30 years, I will add my voice; please donate!
It isn't difficult. It only hurts a little. But it saves lives.
Stanford is the best blood bank, with comfortable facilities and the best medical staff. (Not to mention really good cookies).
My condolences to the family of Joshua - he sounds like a great kid. Hopefully this plea will save the life of another child.
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Posted by robit noops, a resident of the Greenmeadow neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2013 at 12:25 pm When I gave blood at CSU Chico, I got free bowling tickets, a t-shirt, free cd, and hackie sack. Stanford blood center, please step it up a notch.
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Posted by Hmmm, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Feb 21, 2013 at 12:31 pm Did Joshua have a 'flu shot?
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Posted by Jozee, a resident of the Palo Verde neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2013 at 12:36 pm My son has been donating blood since he turned 18 years of age. He is now 22 years old. He does it with GOOD intentions NOT for what he receives. He goes to the STANFORD BLOOD CENTER. They are great. He has gotten the same as you ....robit noops.Im so sorry for this familys loss.
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Posted by Little Dorrit, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2013 at 3:21 pm My niece gives regularly, and is called upon often, to the point that she sometimes gets anemic ( she is O - ). She has also donated platelets, although that can have severe reactions, such as vomiting. It is important to know, because they do not usually tell you, that it takes two weeks for your body to replace that pint you gave, and during that time you must NOT drink alcohol! The lower volume of blood means the alcohol affects far worse on far less.
They often do not tell you that before and after donating, you need to load up on iron, which has consequences of its own. There are several medications that can also make you indelible as a donor.
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Posted by George , a resident of the Charleston Gardens neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2013 at 4:44 pm I am puzzled by the statements about blood type compatibility. The following chart gives the ability of the different blood types (using the ABO typing system). Unfortunately instead of a green or red check mark, the words "green tick" and "red X" are used instead which makes it harder to follow. Tick means okay, X means forbidden. Go to your browser and type in "blood types" for a better view.
Because there are >30 different antigens, this may affect the compatibility and is not covered in this chart.
Red blood cell compatibility
Blood group AB individuals have both A and B antigens on the surface of their RBCs, and their blood plasma does not contain any antibodies against either A or B antigen. Therefore, an individual with type AB blood can receive blood from any group (with AB being preferable), but cannot donate blood to either A or B group. They are known as universal recipients.
Blood group A individuals have the A antigen on the surface of their RBCs, and blood serum containing IgM antibodies against the B antigen. Therefore, a group A individual can receive blood only from individuals of groups A or O (with A being preferable), and can donate blood to individuals with type A or AB.
Blood group B individuals have the B antigen on the surface of their RBCs, and blood serum containing IgM antibodies against the A antigen. Therefore, a group B individual can receive blood only from individuals of groups B or O (with B being preferable), and can donate blood to individuals with type B or AB.
Blood group O (or blood group zero in some countries) individuals do not have either A or B antigens on the surface of their RBCs, but their blood serum contains IgM anti-A and anti-B antibodies against the A and B blood group antigens. Therefore, a group O individual can receive blood only from a group O individual, but can donate blood to individuals of any ABO blood group (i.e., A, B, O or AB). If a patient in a hospital situation were to need a blood transfusion in an emergency, and if the time taken to process the recipient's blood would cause a detrimental delay, O Negative blood can be issued. They are known as universal donors.
Red blood cell compatibility chart
In addition to donating to the same blood group; type O blood donors can give to A, B and AB; blood donors of types A and B can give to AB.
Red blood cell compatibility table[61][62] Recipient[1] Donor[1]
O− O+ A− A+ B− B+ AB− AB+
O− Green tick Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X
O+ Green tick Green tick Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X
A− Green tick Red X Green tick Red X Red X Red X Red X Red X
A+ Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Red X Red X Red X Red X
B− Green tick Red X Red X Red X Green tick Red X Red X Red X
B+ Green tick Green tick Red X Red X Green tick Green tick Red X Red X
AB− Green tick Red X Green tick Red X Green tick Red X Green tick Red X
AB+ Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick
Table note
1. Assumes absence of atypical antibodies that would cause an incompatibility between donor and recipient blood, as is usual for blood selected by cross matching.
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Posted by Cannot be a donor anymore, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2013 at 5:35 pm After having certain medical conditions (ex. cancer ), one may no longer be allowed to donate blood or platelets. I am in that category, unfortunately.
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Posted by Can't donate, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2013 at 8:48 pm I would love to donate but since I travelled to the UK a lot during certain window of time (can't remember the exact window the Blood Center specified), I was essentially rejected. Apparently this is because I may be, albeit unknowingly, carrying the foot and mouth disease. Seems like no one has figured out how to separate those who are / aren't carriers, I would love to donate and do my part otherwise.
The bone marrow agency I registered with didn't ask anything about my past travels, and I do have the donor sticker on my DL (and have informed my family of my wishes). Seems like only blood donation is concerned with my UK travels.
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Posted by Why?, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Feb 22, 2013 at 7:55 am Why did Joshua not get a flu shot? Why was he not given Tamiflu?
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Posted by Rose, a resident of another community, on Feb 22, 2013 at 9:48 am I am 0- and was turned down from donating due to the fact that my RHR (resting heat rate was too low. I think this is wrong if you are a healthy individual. My physician even wrote a note to the blood bank that I was healthy and should be able to donate especially since I was 0-.
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