Rolling up their sleeves: Recovered east Alabama Covid-19 patients helping others fight virus

OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) – In East Alabama, waves of recovered COVID-19 sufferers are rolling up their sleeves to assist others heal as effectively.

East Alabama Medical Center and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers are partnering by participating in a national clinical trial that could help COVID-19 patients recover more quickly. As a result, EAMC officials are encouraging residents who had a confirmed case of COVID-19 to contact LifeSouth to determine if they are eligible to donate Plasma especially helpful to patients in the ICU.

An East Alabama Medical Heart nurse is the primary COVID-19 recovered affected person to make a probably life-saving donation to LifeSouth in Alabama. Now, others are following her lead.

“I used to be very anxious about having COVID-19, however I really feel good now, I’m fully recovered, so I’m prepared to assist different folks,” shared Amber White.

White is an Auburn mom and spouse of a police officer. She fought off COVID-19 again in late March and is now turning her sickness into probably life-saving Plasma.

“General, I really feel like I dealt with it fairly effectively, that’s why I wish to donate plasma for these people who find themselves not dealing with it effectively,” shared White.

White is one in all many donors who’re following within the footsteps of East Alabama Medical Heart’s Eryn Morris. The registered nurse was one of many first COVID-19 sufferers in Chambers County, and now she is the primary recovered affected person in Alabama to donate Plasma to LifeSouth Blood Heart. Morris clutched an image of her beloved sister, an organ donor earlier than she handed, throughout her donation.

“My physique was sturdy sufficient to battle off COVID, however anyone else might not have the ability to and may gain advantage from the antibodies in my plasma,” Morris shared.

A recovered affected person’s Plasma accommodates antibodies or proteins within the blood. Preliminary research present the antibodies could be useful to hospitalized COVID sufferers by lessening the severity of the case.

With east Alabama constantly main the state in COVID-19 deaths, Morris and White are praying their donations will ease somebody’s struggling.

“Anytime we now have wanted something, the neighborhood has helped us, so we at all times wish to ensure that we’re giving again to our neighborhood. We grew up right here within the Auburn, Opelika, and Beauregard space, and it feels good to deal with our personal,” shared White.

If you’re a recovered COVID-19 affected person, you may register to donate Plasma at https://lifesouth.bio-linked.org/, and LifeSouth will contact you instantly. For questions concerning a donation, e mail LifeSouth at medicaloffice@lifesouth.org or name (888) 795-2707. Allow them to know you’re donating to East Alabama Medical Heart.