KINGSTON, Jamaica – Paul Barrett, in collaboration with the National Blood Transfusion Service, is on a two-day blood drive to collect 200 units of blood to save his wife’s life.

His wife, who has a rare condition known as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) needs multiple blood transfusions, and is now in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

“My wife at the moment requires a lot of blood and there is no specific treatment for it. The nature of her illness is one where antigens are in her blood,” Barrett told OBSERVER ONLINE late Tuesday.

He said she first went to the ICU on New Year’s Day and came back out but returned about two or three days after.

“Despite the blood she keeps requiring more and more. I was introduced to a new procedure called plasma exchange and decided to try it,” Barrett shared. “It takes between four to five of the procedures before you see results.”

He said that each time the procedure is done, it requires 40 units of blood.

“She is still critical,” said Barrett.

Barrett approached the Blood Bank and they have since organised a two-day blood drive that is to continue at the Anglican Church Hall in Morant Bay, St Thomas on Wednesday.

“I went out and asked people to donate, kind of like a door-to-door invitation and got help from other people who went around making announcements, and also through social media.

Blood Donor Organiser Igol Allen told OBSERVER ONLINE that a total of 62 units were collected Tuesday. He also said that once Barrett approached them, they said yes immediately.

“I am encouraging those in Kingston who would like to assist to go to the National Chest Hospital between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm on Saturday to donate or any of the other centres across the island during the week,” said Allen.

Barrett said he is grateful for the support so far and thanked everybody who donated. He is however appealing for additional support.

Anika Richards