Governor, legislator urge recovered Oklahomans to donate convalescent plasm
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 20, 2020 – An Oklahoma woman who survived COVID-19 met today with the state representative who donated the convalescent plasma that made her treatment possible.
Through Oklahoma Blood Institute’s (OBI) Thank-the-Donor program, Rep. Jason Lowe and Tami Torres met in a small, private event. Lowe donated convalescent plasma this summer following his COVID-19 diagnosis and a challenge from Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Torres, of Midwest City, was hospitalized with COVID-19 in August. She received donor plasma as part of her treatment at St. Anthony Hospital that was later traced back to Lowe.
“I am grateful to Rep. Lowe and other donors who make the selfless choice to donate,” said Torres. “The treatment they help make possible makes an incredible difference for patients struggling with the illness. It is a source of hope for those facing isolation and uncertainty.”
Stitt donated convalescent plasma in August after his recovery from COVID-19 and called on Oklahomans to follow his lead. He later supported multiple cabinet secretaries and state legislators, including Lowe, at an OBI donation event in Oklahoma City.
“It’s humbling to know that such a small effort on my part helped Ms. Torres in her battle against this virus,” said Lowe. “We were strangers before today, but we’re now linked because of the pandemic. It means the world to me to meet Ms. Torres and learn more about her and her family.”
Stitt and Lowe continue to encourage Oklahomans who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate convalescent plasma.
“Convalescent plasma saves lives and we are grateful for the willingness of our fellow Oklahomans to participate in programs through community partners like OBI that help others recover,” said Stitt. “I encourage those who have recovered from the virus to donate convalescent plasma as soon as they are medically cleared to do so.”
Patient antibodies are the only known source of convalescent plasma.
“Convalescent plasma is at the cutting edge of treatment plans for coronavirus,” said Dr. John Armitage, OBI president and CEO. “Our current donation levels are only providing about 70 percent of the convalescent plasma hospitals need. Donors can give convalescent plasma every seven days and we ask COVID-19 survivors to make this important donation, as only they can.”
A single plasma donation can provide transfusions for up to four COVID-19 patients. To donate convalescent plasma, donors must have had a positive virus test result, be symptomfree for 14 days and be at least seven days past their last blood or plasma donation.
Interested donors can sign up at bit.ly/covid19-registry-ok.
OBI is the sixth largest non-profit blood collector in the U.S. All staff members are trained to maintain the safest standards for blood collection, testing and transfusion. Social distancing, mask use and increased sanitation are observed as daily best practices. Find more information at www.obi.org.