Twickenham plasma donor centre helps father honour son’s memory
A father from Uxbridge has shared his story in the hope of inspiring others to donate plasma at Twickenham Donor Centre, following the loss of his young son who relied on plasma treatment during his time at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
David Sinclair, 43, began regularly donating plasma in memory of his son Asher, who passed away in 2019 at the age of four after a long and courageous battle with illness.
Asher was born in 2015, but was rushed to GOSH just ten days later after contracting coxsackievirus, a rare and potentially fatal condition in newborns.
Over the next two years, Asher's fight continued, as he faced several life-threatening infections including necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) and multiple bouts of sepsis.
While Asher's condition caused long-term heart and brain damage, he showed extraordinary resilience.
He was briefly placed on the transplant list, but his heart began to recover on its own, and he was removed.
Throughout his time in GOSH's intensive care unit, the Sinclair family saw firsthand the crucial role of blood and plasma donations in giving sick children a fighting chance.
Asher passed away on 8 October 2019, but his parents were determined to honour his memory by giving back.
Encouraged by a friend, David began donating blood and soon after was invited to become a plasma donor — something he now does regularly at the Twickenham Plasma Donor Centre.
"Without blood and plasma donations, we would never have had the precious time we shared — four unforgettable years with our son, Asher," David said.
"Donating feels like a simple way to express my gratitude. I get a quiet opportunity to read my book, with snacks brought to me, and I'm always greeted with a warm and friendly welcome from the staff in Twickenham.
"Every time I donate, I'm reminded that my plasma could help another family stay together just that little bit longer."
Pamela Antoinette, Plasma Operations Manager for NHS Blood and Transplant in Twickenham, urged more people to consider becoming donors.
"We need more people to donate plasma at the Twickenham donor centre to help save even more lives," she said.
"It is as easy as giving blood and takes just over an hour. Your donation could be crucial to helping another family stay together longer."
Plasma is used to make life-saving medicines for people with rare immune disorders, cancers, and other serious conditions.
Donations are especially vital to children and adults who rely on these treatments when other options fail.
Visit www.blood.co.uk to book a blood or plasma donation appointment or call 0300 123 23 23 to find your nearest session.
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