Coronavirus: Southern California COVID-19 survivor donates his plasma to Orange County patient in critical need

ORANGE, Calif. (KABC) — An Orange County hospital has turn into the primary on the West Coast to strive an experimental remedy for COVID-19 as a affected person in severe situation simply acquired a plasma transfusion from a person who lately recovered. If it really works, it may supply hope as the doubtless lethal an infection wreaks havoc worldwide.

Inside St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, a critically unwell coronavirus affected person waits to see if an trial remedy will assist him get well.

“It”s actually there for these sufferers which can be severely affected or whose life is threatened by the virus,” mentioned Wendy Escobedo, RN, the nursing director for Dialysis and Kidney Transplants.

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The process, referred to as convalescent plasma remedy, seems like a blood transfusion, however it’s plasma from a recovered affected person.

“Plasma is the yellowish liquid element of the blood and it carries actually vital cells and proteins,” Escobedo mentioned.

The proteins include antibodies that helped 36-year-old Jason Garcia, a brand new father and Escondido resident, beat COVID-19 in mid-March.

“It was form of like a chilly perhaps with a shortness of breath,” he mentioned. “A light-like bronchitis approaching. The whole lot was form of short-lived.”

He posted his story of restoration, which caught the eye of researchers at St. Joseph Hospital. Garcia has been symptom free for 14 days, which made him eligible to donate plasma.
“It is just a little bit extra concerned than donating blood, however it’s very related,” he mentioned. “I’ve donated blood earlier than. In case you’re comfy donating blood, this simply takes just a little longer sitting within the chair.”

Though experimental, Escobedo mentioned convalescent plasma remedy was first used within the 1890s to deal with diphtheria. The remedy was used once more throughout the Spanish Flu and later to deal with SARS and H1N1.

“It’s a type of therapies that we may do now for these sufferers who do not have the posh of time,” she mentioned.

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Inside a number of weeks, Escobedo and her colleagues will know the way nicely the remedy works in opposition to coronavirus. However, she believes donors like Garcia would be the true heroes of this pandemic.

“I really feel superior that you may know one thing constructive got here out of this, and I will assist others and doubtlessly save lives,” Garcia mentioned.

One donation may also help three sufferers.

The FDA introduced it needs to collect plasma from those that’ve recovered. Now, the American Red Cross is working with the FDA to assist display, establish and acquire plasma from those that have survived coronavirus.

The Crimson Cross established RedCrossBlood.org/plasma4covid to assist acquire potential donor info. The Crimson Cross will then follow-up with potential candidates to substantiate eligibility and participation.

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