“I never imagined I’d end up on the other side”

Nursery teacher Sara was 40 when she was diagnosed with a highly aggressive cancer.

"I used to give blood myself," she says. "I never imagined I'd end up on the other side."

Sara received blood to keep her well alongside the chemotherapy that successfully treated the cancer, but sadly also left her with a rare autoimmune condition.

"After I finished chemo I couldn't breathe properly," she says. "There was so much trial and error.

"Then I started immunoglobulin treatment - and that changed everything."

Immunoglobulins are medicines made from donated plasma, the yellowish liquid that makes up approximately 55% of your blood.

Plasma contains antibodies that fight infection and can be made into medicines that treat over 50 different diseases.

Sara now receives immunoglobulin infusions every 4 weeks. She says if she waits longer than that, her body starts shutting down."

"I get chronic fatigue, burning and itchy skin, photosensitivity, and muscle weakness," she says. "But when I time my treatment right, I can function. I can live."

Patients like Sara have recently been benefitting from the lifesaving medicines made from the plasma given by donors in England.

NHS Blood and Transplant recently celebrated the 6-month milestone of UK-derived plasma medicines, with 2,221 NHS patients having been treated.

These treatments have enabled Sara to have more special days: she loves to DJ at clubs and festivals.

"My infusion gives me the strength and confidence I need to take on challenges - whether it's a late-night set, a new hobby, or just getting through a week of teaching little ones," she says.

"This treatment has given me a second chance."

More donations of plasma are needed to help people like Sara to have more special days.

We particularly need more people with A positive, O positive and B positive blood types to donate plasma.

Find out more about donating plasma at one of our three plasma donor centres in Birmingham, Reading, or Twickenham here.