As Jeffrey began to experience the recurring infections typical of Primary Immunodeficiency, our lives became a whirlwind of hospitals and doctors’ offices. There were some treatments available, but they brought problems of their own.

At three or four years of age, Jeffrey had to endure painful, intramuscular injections of gamma globulin given with huge needles that left him sore for days. By the time he was ten or eleven, he was started on intravenous gamma globulin (IVIG). IVIG therapy replaced the missing antibodies his body was unable to produce, purified from plasma donated by volunteers. These treatments sometimes improved his life for weeks at a time.

Plasma makes up 55% of our blood and contains antibodies, water, salts, enzymes, and proteins. Plasma cannot be made artificially in a lab and can only be obtained from healthy donors who generously give their time to donate the gift of life. For patients with Primary Immunodeficiency, plasma can be the difference between life and death.

Every year it takes over 130 plasma donations to treat just one patient with PI. Volunteer donors can supply plasma twice in a seven-day period and will also be compensated for their donation. The US supplies the world with plasma, so regular donations are essential for life-sustaining and life-saving treatments for patients living with PI and other life-threatening rare diseases.

We urge everyone 18+ who meets the screening criteria to join us in answering Jeffrey’s pleas for us to “Do Something!” by donating plasma. Donated plasma is used to create lifesaving treatments for people living with PI and help their immune systems stay strong to live happy and healthy lives!

Here are some other ways you can support people living with PI and “Do Something!”

  • Share how plasma protein therapies have impacted your quality of life as a patient
  • Organize a plasma donation drive near your home
  • Share why plasma donation is important to you as a donor
  • Tell friends and family how important it is to donate plasma and save lives

To find a plasma donation center near you, visit donatingplasma.org/donation/find-a-donor-center.