No one really thinks about the importance of blood donations until they are faced with the very real urgency of needing one. Whether it’s for yourself or someone you really love, blood and plasma donations really can be the difference life and death.
Chantelle Otten, beloved sexologist and podcast host, knows this all too well as her mum has been the recipient of life-saving plasma donations while she’s been in treatment for myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukaemia.
Punkee speaks to Chantelle about her mum’s journey with Lifeblood Australia right here.
Can you please tell us a little bit about your personal connection to blood donation? Is it right that your mum is currently receiving blood?
My mum is currently receiving two plasma donations a week, alongside chemotherapy, as part of her treatment for myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukaemia. These plasma donations are essential because they help manage the symptoms of her illness and give her the strength to continue fighting. After searching for five months, we found a perfect bone marrow donor from Germany, and her transplant is scheduled for October. This transplant is what will ultimately save her life, but until then, the plasma and blood donations are sustaining her energy and keeping her body strong enough to endure the chemotherapy and the upcoming transplant. It’s been a deeply personal journey, seeing how these donations have played such a vital role in her care and recovery. Blood and plasma donors are truly giving her – and so many others – hope and a fighting chance for a new life.
I understand you are hoping to become a blood donor. Can you tell us why you are so keen to donate?
I’m incredibly keen to donate because I’ve seen how essential these donations are for my mum’s treatment. The plasma she receives twice a week helps replenish her blood’s proteins, supporting her immune system and keeping her body stable while she undergoes chemotherapy. The generosity of those donors is giving her the physical energy she needs to continue fighting until her bone marrow transplant in October. Knowing that a single donation can directly help someone like my mum – giving them the strength to endure another round of treatment – is a powerful motivator. It’s an act of kindness that can truly save lives, and I want to be part of that life-saving effort for others who are in need. I’ve struggled to donate in the past because my own blood isn’t the best, I have chronic low white blood cells so I can get really run down and it doesn’t make for healthy blood to donate, but I am conscious of what I can do!
Did you know that one-third of all blood and blood products are used by cancer patients? Does this figure surprise you?
As someone who works within the healthcare field, I was aware that cancer patients depend on blood and plasma, but I didn’t realise that a full third of all donations go directly to their care. This statistic truly highlights just how critical these donations are. For cancer patients like my mum, blood and plasma are more than just a support—they are life-sustaining. In her case, plasma donations help to stabilise her blood, especially as chemotherapy can take such a toll on her body. Seeing that so many patients rely on these donations reinforces how important it is to ensure a steady supply. Without these contributions, many people simply wouldn’t have the strength to fight their illness.
Lifeblood is calling on 100,000 Australians who haven’t donated before to find a reason to come in and donate. What do you think is the most compelling reason to donate blood?
The most compelling reason to donate blood is that it directly saves lives and supports those fighting to survive. For my mum, and many like her, plasma and blood donations are keeping her body strong enough to withstand chemotherapy, and it’s what’s allowing her to prepare for the life-saving bone marrow transplant she’ll receive in October. For others, it could mean surviving a surgery, getting through a critical illness, or recovering from an accident. Your donation doesn’t just support one person – it can help multiple people in their time of need. And at a time when many of us might not be able to contribute financially, giving blood is a powerful way to give back without cost. The ripple effect of such generosity is truly immense, and it’s something we can all be part of.
Had you considered becoming a blood or plasma donor prior to your mum’s diagnosis?
I had thought about it, but my mum’s diagnosis made it so much more real for me. Seeing firsthand how plasma donations are keeping her strong enough to endure her treatments made me realise just how critical these donations are – not just in emergencies but as part of everyday life for people battling serious illnesses. The blood and plasma donors are providing her with the strength she needs to survive until her bone marrow transplant. It’s not something I took action on until now, because I have difficulties with low white blood cells myself, but her journey has inspired me to become a part of this life-saving process for others in need. And if I can’t donate for certain reasons, I can do what I do best, which is educate and inform other about why and how blood donation can help so many. Plus it’s such a nice way to be mindful and intentionally rest! You get biscuits and snacks and you can listen to a podcast! Bliss!
Can you explain a bit more about what the donations of blood and plasma do, and what the bone marrow transplant involves?
Absolutely. Blood and plasma donations are vital for people like my mum, who are undergoing chemotherapy and other intensive treatments. Plasma donations, in particular, help replenish vital proteins in the blood, supporting the immune system and preventing dangerous bleeding. The plasma also helps to stabilise blood levels and maintain her body’s strength, which is critical during chemotherapy. Blood transfusions, meanwhile, provide oxygen-carrying red blood cells that can help combat the fatigue and weakness caused by both the illness and its treatment.
As for the bone marrow transplant, this is a crucial step for my mum, as it’s what will ultimately save her life. Her current bone marrow isn’t producing healthy blood cells, which is why she’s so dependent on blood and plasma donations. The transplant will replace her damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells from the donor in Germany. This will allow her body to start producing healthy blood cells again, giving her a new immune system and, hopefully, a new lease on life. It’s an incredibly complex procedure, but it offers the best chance for her to overcome this disease. Until then, the plasma and blood donations are keeping her body strong enough to get through chemotherapy and prepare for the transplant.
You can book in your first blood donation with Lifeblood Australia right here.
Image credit: Lifeblood Australia
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