Lack Of Donors Has Oklahoma In Midst Of Blood Emergency

There's currently a blood emergency in Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma Blood Institute says without the help of donors, it could run out in less than two days.

OBI said blood donations typically slow down during the holidays; but during a season of giving, one woman, who knows better than most, said giving blood is the best and easiest gift to give.

With a medical mask hanging by her face, Peggy Clark is adapting to life as she now knows it.

“I don't have the energy, really, to go out and do anything, so I sit at home and do what I do here,” Clark said.

She was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome in August, which means her bone marrow doesn't produce enough healthy blood cells.

“So if I'm not real careful I could bleed to death just over a little paper cut or a paring knife cut,” she said.

Because of Clark's condition she has to make several trips to the hospital each week for blood transfusions. She needs both red blood cells and platelets to survive.

“The platelets is to keep me from bleeding to death, I'm a walking bruise,” Clark said. “The blood transfusion for my hemoglobin is my energy level.”

When she showed up for her platelet appointment Tuesday, she was told there weren't any.

“That's when she goes, 'Peggy, there's none, we've used them right now,'” she said.

Saint Francis said two major emergencies caused a slight delay in its platelet supply.

The Oklahoma Blood Institute said when that happened, a shipment from Oklahoma City was sent in.

OBI said platelets only have a shelf life of five days, so it's always in desperate need of donors.

The blood emergency was called due to the shortage of red blood cell donations, which are the most common. Red blood cells have a shelf-life of 42 days.

Looking back, Clark said she wishes she would have been a donor.

“Hindsight's 20/20, I know, but I think of all the people, maybe I could have helped,” said Clark.

It doesn't cost anything to donate, just time; and for Clark, she has grandchildren and a family, and time is all she wants.

“I've got lots of living to do, places I want to go,” she said. “Yeah, we have lots of things we want to do.”

Clark was able to get her platelets Wednesday. She's waiting now to find out if she's a candidate for a bone marrow transfusion.

For more information on how you can make a blood donation, you can visit OBI's website.