Plasma Donors Rise to the Call to Save Woman in Need of Transplant

Kevin Crowley celebrated a special milestone on Wednesday afternoon.

The Clark resident and Merck employee marked his 100th plasma donation during a session at the Scotch Plains Blood Center.

"It's always good to know it's going to help somebody," Crowley said.

But unlike a lot of his donations, Crowley knows exactly where this one is going.

The New York Blood Center got the call last Thursday that an area woman who's at the top of the list for a liver transplant was in desperate need of AB universal plasma to stay alive. The center then put the message out to its five regional groups, including New Jersey Blood Services, which oversees the Scotch Plains Blood Center.

Marie Forrestal, the center's manager for donation and recruitment, reached out to a small group of men at Merck who regularly donate plasma.

On Wednesday, Crowley and his coworker, John Strauss, showed up at the center to give back.

Crowley, who is AB negative, is a universal plasma donor and has been donating whole blood, platelets and plasma since 1973.

“Back in the 70's, I watched my father whither away with lung cancer and realized the value of blood donations,” he said. “By donating plasma for this woman in need, I know I’m helping society. It’s such a small thing to do.”

While Union County has the highest rate of plasma donors in the state of New Jersey, Forrestal said there is still a severe shortage.

"It could be until she finds a liver," she said of how long the center may need to provide this woman with plasma. "It could be one week, it could be two weeks."

Strauss said he spent about six hours on Monday working to find other coworkers at Merck with AB blood who would qualify to donate.

The Scotch Plains Blood Center is seeking other donors who can help with this cause as well. Forrestal said that while women can't donate plasma (many carry an antibody in their blood implicated with transfusion-related acute lung injury), men can donate every 28 days.

To sign up to donate at the Scotch Plains Blood Center, call 1-800-933-2566.