‘Treatments mean I can enjoy life’: Civil servant with rare disorder stresses the importance of plasma donations
A civil servant who developed a rare neurological disorder in her 30s has described the importance of plasma donations.
Becca Taber, 36, is a civil servant from Brixton. She receives medicine made from plasma, called immunoglobulin, every eight weeks at St Thomas’ Hospital to stabilise her disorder.
Ms Taber was diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) three years ago.
This disorder means her body is attacking the fat that covers her nerve cells, this causes damage such as loss of sensation or loss of the ability to move.
The donor antibodies help her own immune system to stabilise and reduce the attacks.
Ms Taber said: “Immunoglobulin transforms the quality of my life.
“I want to say a huge thank you to donors, it’s such a selfless thing to do.
“By sitting in a chair and donating you can make a huge difference to someone.”
Ms Taber was diagnosed in 2020.
“It got to the point where I was struggling to get out of bed.
“It was a bit of a shock to get the diagnosis. I think I was just more worried than anything.
“After my infusions, I feel better for a few weeks then start to run down again like a wind-up toy.
“Treatment helps transform my energy levels and means I can enjoy life. I am just so happy people donate.”
Last year, 3,788 people from London received immunoglobulin. Plasma is made into immunoglobulin and can be used to treat more than 50 diseases by strengthening or stabilising the immune system.
Today begins the first Plasma Donation Week held by the NHS as new figures show more than 1,000 new donors are needed at London’s plasma donor centre.
To help more people understand how important plasma donation is, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is using this week to celebrate its donors.
There will be thank you events at the London donor centre in Twickenham that will be sharing patient and donor stories.
Dr Francis Matthey, a consultant haematologist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I see how plasma donation helps to save and improve lives.
“Plasma is a lifesaving part of your blood that can be made into immunoglobulin medicines, which strengthen and stabilise the immune system, as well as other vital blood components.
“Many people in London have never heard of plasma donation. But you have a medicine in you which has the power to save and transform someone’s life.”
Search ‘donate plasma’ to register now or visit www.blood.co.uk/plasma
Pictured top: Becca Taber out for a walk with her dog (Picture: Becca Taber)
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