‘I’m incredibly grateful’: The power of plasma and the people it helps

RALEIGH, N.C. — At the Grifols Plasma Donation Center, people are rolling up their sleeves to donate.

When chemically separated from our blood, plasma appears yellowish, carrying vital proteins and antibodies. It’s used to make medications for people with immune disorders and other serious conditions.

Plasma is more than just what flows through your veins. It can be the difference between someone’s sickness and survival.

That’s why thousands of donors come out each week to give a hand up.

Among the dozens of donors at the center was Clyde Gomes, who says once he discovered how his donation could help others, he knew he’d want to help.

“If you keep the bigger picture in mind, that you’re helping save lives, that’s a very easy thing to do,” Gomes said.

For people like Dorothy “Dottie” Szypulski, these donations are essential. She’s battled with an immune disorder since childhood, spending much of her days inside hospitals.

“From my earliest memories, I was hospitalized quite a bit. Colds and bronchitis usually became pneumonia,” she recalled. 

At age 13, she was diagnosed with hypogammaglobulinemia, a rare condition that prevents her body from fighting off infections. To survive, she depends on plasma-based medication.

“My drug cannot be created synthetically. It has to be made from human donation,” she explained.

However, her time in the hospitals gave her much opportunity to indulge in her love for the arts, including quilting and writing. She spends a lot of time making quilts for children and other people in the hospital. 

Smiling as she made a quilt, she said, “The best medicine for anything that ails you is to go help someone.”

Aurelkys Campbell, manager of the donation center, says stories like Dottie’s are the reason she and staff work to spread awareness.

“It is a huge impact to our community and our patients that rely on it. People like you and I, who get the common cold and unfortunately don’t have the antibodies to fight off infections, rely on plasma therapy just to have a normal life,” Campbell said.

As Dottie reflected on her journey and the family she and her husband Ted have built, she couldn’t be happier.

“I’m incredibly grateful. I didn’t expect to live,” she said. “And here I have grandchildren, which is absolutely the best thing about life.”