Platelet donors help patients as lifesaving gift
Jeff Pitzer and others share how apheresis platelet donations helped leukemia patients, including Pitzer’s sister Kathy Stoner who benefited before passing in 1994. The piece notes locations in Beaver County Greensburg and Johnstown and describes the donor process and bone marrow matching efforts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jeff Pitzer
Pitzer
American Red Cross
Kathy Stoner
Stoner
Beaver County
Red Cross
Greensburg
Johnstown
Beaver
Apheresis Blood Donation Q and A Highlights
Apheresis is a blood donation method that separates components by centrifuge to collect platelets and other parts. It benefits patients with cancer, anemia, or bleeding disorders, with donors receiving rest and refreshments afterward.
Recycled holiday cards aid St Jude's Ranch fundraiser
A local drive collects used holiday cards for St Jude's Ranch for Children in Boulder City to create new cards and fund the home for abused children. The program asks for cards by November and provides a contact number for information. Separately, a Nature study by Avi Ashkenazi and Genentech scientists identifies the DcR3 gene forming a decoy to block Fas ligand, potentially aiding cancer cells. about half of 35 lung and colon tumors showed extra DcR3 copies, suggesting a survival advantage and a possible drug target for lung cancer.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
St. Jude’s Ranch
St. Jude St
Boulder City
St. Jude’s
Nature
Avi Ashkenazi
Secs
Genentech Inc
Uth San Francisco
Ashkenazi
Judson's Quest Behind Modern Apheresis Technology
In 1964 George T. Judson’s son Tom died of leukemia at 20 and spurred his work on blood component separation. Beginning in 1962 at the National Cancer Institute, he observed leukapheresis and, with IBM partners, pursued a machine to isolate platelets plasma or cells. Early testing on a leukemia patient showed the method could safely separate blood components and return the rest to the body, laying the groundwork for today’s apheresis devices.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pitzer
U.S
George T. Judson
Tom
Judson
National Cancer Institute
Bethesda
George Judson
Ing
IBM
Also Mentioned on This Page
Tiffany Wolfe
Peg Schweinsberg
The
Trinity Episcopal
Jean Reeder
Wampum
Reeder
Charles Shoaff
Shoaff
Jiffany Wolfe
NEW Castle News
West Side
George
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