Donating today may save a life tomorrow - A donation Tim Jessup will never forget

Like many blood donors, Tim Jessup’s first donation took place while at high school. What initially seemed like a good excuse for some time out of class with his friends, soon became a regular occurrence in Tim’s life. And, as he says, one of his greatest achievements to date.  

“I grew up in Australia, and after donating that first time with friends it became an enjoyable, regular part of my life. My friends also continued to donate regularly, and we would even compete to see who could donate the most often. The milkshakes also helped to motivate us!”

It didn’t stop there, while at University in Tasmania studying Chemistry and Mechatronics, Tim continued to regularly donate blood, eventually switching to plasma after learning about the number of lifesaving products that could be made from one donation. He kept up the donations when he crossed the ditch and moved to New Zealand in 2014.

Plasma holds essential antibodies and proteins and is used to make 11 lifesaving products for Kiwis in need. The demand for plasma products in New Zealand is continually growing and to keep up 7,000 new donors are needed by July 2021.

Ten years later, Tim has now given 121 blood and plasma donations, but it was his 107th donation made at the Christchurch Donor Centre, on February 26, 2019, that left a lasting impression.

“It was just like any other day at the donor centre really, nothing out of the ordinary happened. I chatted to the nurses, read my book, donated plasma and then off I went to work. I could not have imagined what was to come.”

16 months on, Tim was told his plasma donation in February 2019 may have helped save the lives of some people critically injured in the Christchurch mosque attacks in March 2019. *

“It was quite surreal, I received a phone call from the New Zealand Blood Service in June asking if I wanted to be a part of World Blood Donor Day 2020, and get the opportunity to meet some of the survivors of the Christchurch mosque attacks who had received blood and blood products. Initially, I didn’t register, and thought why me, but then I was told it was highly likely my plasma had helped a survivor.”

Directly after the mosque attacks, 520 units of red cells, platelets, cryoprecipitate and fresh frozen plasma went directly to help save lives, and this was made possible by generous blood donors like Tim.

“At the time of the attack, a lot of people felt so helpless, we all wanted to do something to help or ease the pain of those who were involved but didn’t know what we could do. It wasn’t until I received the call from the New Zealand Blood Service that I realised that I actually had helped in this small way.”

Donors don’t often get to see first-hand the effect donation can have, but for Tim, meeting someone whose life was saved is a moment he will never forget.

“I had never met anyone before who had needed blood or whose life had benefited from it*, and so meeting the Imam of the mosque, Ibrahim Abdelhalim and his wife Salwa Abdelhalim who received a lot of blood and blood products, was an extremely humbling experience and it has given what I do as a donor a whole new purpose.”

“I feel that I have been really fortunate in my life and I have always felt I have a responsibility to give back to the world and try and make other people’s lives a little better. Ultimately that’s the driving force behind why I donate, and why I encourage others to do so as well.”

Tim’s drive to give back has also inspired his colleagues at his workplace Syft Technologies, where he has established its very first Team Red.

Team Red is a group blood donation programme, which allows companies, organisations, or groups with three or more people including friends, sports teams, and social clubs – to sign up and donate blood or plasma together.

If it’s your first time donating, or you’re a little apprehensive about the process, Tim’s advice is simple. “Grab a friend, or a group of friends, and make an appointment together. You’ll have a good time, eat some chocolate and maybe even save someone’s life.”

* Tim donated plasma within the timeframe that makes it highly likely his plasma was used as part of the emergency response to the Christchurch attack, however due to patient privacy NZBS is unable to provide additional information or make a direct connection between donor and recipient.

To find out more about how you can donate plasma click here, or call 0800 GIVE BLOOD.