An Uxbridge father is donating plasma to help save lives in memory of his young son, whose treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) was made possible through the generosity of blood and plasma donors.
David Sinclair, 43, began donating after his son Asher spent much of his short life at GOSH. Born in 2015, Asher appeared healthy at birth but was rushed to hospital just 10 days later after contracting coxsackievirus – a rare and potentially fatal illness in newborns.
David, his wife Helen, and their daughter Erin, who was almost two at the time, spent the next two years living at the hospital as Asher fought off multiple infections, including Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis. At one point, he was added to the transplant list due to heart failure, but his condition improved enough to be removed from the list.
David said the family saw firsthand the importance of blood and plasma donations, not just for Asher but for many other families they met.
Tragically, on 8 October 2019, Asher passed away at the age of four.
Inspired by a friend and driven by gratitude for the care his son received, David began donating blood. After his first session, he was invited to consider plasma donation and has been a regular donor ever since.
David said: “Without blood and plasma donations, we would never have had the precious time we shared — four unforgettable years with our son, Asher.
“We’ve witnessed firsthand how many of our friends are still with us today, thanks to the generosity of donors.
“Donating feels like a simple way to express my gratitude. I get a quiet opportunity to read my book, with snacks brought to me, and I’m always greeted with a warm and friendly welcome from the staff at Twickenham Plasma Donor Centre.
“Every time I donate, I’m reminded that my plasma could help another family stay together just that little bit longer.”
Pamela Antoinette, Plasma Operations Manager for NHS Blood and Transplant in Twickenham, added: “We need more people to donate plasma at the Twickenham donor centre to help save even more lives. It is as easy as giving blood and takes just over an hour.
“If you are the giving type and wish to make a difference, please book an appointment today to donate blood or plasma by visiting our website. Your donation could be crucial to helping another family stay together longer.”
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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