Virtual Blood Drive

My oldest son, Declan, required several blood platelet transfusions after he was born, due to neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia - a condition where a mother's immune system produces antibodies that attack her baby's platelets, leading to a low platelet count in the fetus or newborn. The low platelet count was discovered shortly after he was born, and he received his first platelet transfusion. Declan spent several days in the NICU, and received additional transfusions until his mother's antibodies in his system dissipated. After that happened, he was in the clear. Following Declan's discharge, my wife, Kathleen, and I later met with her doctor, who gave us the alloimmune thrombocytopenia diagnosis and recommended that we speak with a neonatal specialist before planning for another child. Some months later, we met with the specialist who believed she could attend to a successful second pregnancy. When my wife became pregnant with our son, Jack, his platelet count was tested in utero at about 31 weeks. and showed he needed a platelet transfusion. This same procedure was performed again at 36 weeks. Jack was delivered by C-section and had a normal platelet count at birth. Some years later, in the year between my 39th and 40th birthdays, I started a blood fund to collect 400 pints of blood from family and friends in honor of the life-saving treatment my sons received. In 11 months, the "Murphy 400 Fund" surpassed its goal, reaching a total of 619 pints, with the last two being donated by Kathleen and me on my 40th birthday, the target fund date. The Murphy 400 Fund eventually grew to over 1,200 pints donated. Blood donation remains important to me, which is why I was pleased to accept a spot on the Vitalant Community Advisory Committee and to champion this blood drive!