Andrea

Andrea's Story: A LONG ROAD AHEAD

Andrea was feeling off for a whole week, then learned she had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Originally from Adair County, Andrea lives in Fontanelle, Iowa. After days of feeling sick, she finally went to the doctor. There she found out that something wasn't right. Her doctor strongly urged Andrea to go to Methodist to have some tests done, that were not possible in a smaller hospital.

"We did all sorts of things. I just kept feeling worse and worse. And essentially, I thought maybe I had, like, a gallbladder infection" she recalled, and on a Saturday morning, "...we had came up with an answer."

Andrea had leukemia. She had a dangerously low platelet count, and was admitted to the hospital. Over the next few weeks, she required 12 more platelet transfusions, and a red blood cell transfusion. Her rare condition also required specific genetic testing to be done.

"It only took four days, which they told me never happens. It normally takes a lot longer. And within three days from that, we were able to get a match and have it flown in."

Doctor's informed her that she will need, over the next two years, more platelets and blood products, but her chemotherapy is working.

"One really good thing that I heard last week at my appointment, though, was things seem to be going pretty well." She was told by doctors that they are not going to rule out the chance she might be in remission.

Andrea is a great advocate for platelet donations, and urges everyone to give to their communities this way. "I know as we go into the holiday season, a lot of us start thinking about, okay, how can we give back?"

Donating platelets can take around 2 hours, but we are here to help during the entire process. Our team can provide drinks and snacks, and we even have a TV, or phone or tablet holder, to make you as comfortable as possible during the donation.

"It's a little bit of a process and it's a little bit of time, but the impact that we can make by donating not only can save someone else's life, but it can help improve the quality of their life."