THE MOTHER of a seven-year-old boy from Dinas Powys is urging more people to consider donating blood after recalling the ordeal her family went through while she was carrying her son.
Rebecca Davies and her husband Geraint were told during a routine appointment in 2017 that there were complications in the pregnancy due to the different blood types between her and her unborn baby, Nate.
Rebecca was told that her blood had begun producing antibodies to fight that of her unborn son. Although rare, the disease can be dangerous for babies.
Nate needed to receive a blood transfusion while still in the womb at 28 weeks old. Four weeks later, he was delivered prematurely in order to receive a further lifesaving blood transfusion at just one day old whilst in the neonatal intensive care unit at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.
Thankfully, Nate made a full recovery and was allowed home five weeks later. Now aged seven, he is a healthy young boy with no long-term effects from the disease and is enjoying life with his parents and siblings, Kieran and Evie.
To mark National Blood Donor Week, Rebecca looked back on her difficult pregnancy and said: “Without these blood transfusions, Nate would not be here with us today. To put it simply, we are a family of five, not four, thanks to the generosity of blood donors.
“To whoever the donors are that Nate received the blood from, we cannot thank you enough.”
Alan Prosser, Welsh Blood Service Director, said: “Every day, around 350 donations are needed to help the patients in hospitals across Wales, including the University Hospital of Wales, where Nate received his transfusions.
“As a service, we rely on the generosity of people living in Wales to provide vital donations to patients, and around 5,000 blood donations each year are used due to childbirth.
“By giving up just one hour of your time, you have a unique opportunity to support patients like Nate who rely on transfusions to survive.
“Sharing stories like Rebecca and Nate’s highlight the true value of just one blood donation and the difference it makes, not just to the person receiving the transfusion, but also to their family.”
A blood donation session will be held at the Memo Arts Centre in Barry on Tuesday, 23rd July, 10am 5pm. To check your eligibility and to book a slot, visit tinyurl.com/BarryMemoBlood
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