HOUSTON – MD Anderson says they are critically low on blood because of recent flooding, so patients who need transfusions right now are not getting it.
"My wife is upstairs and she needs some blood transfusion. And I thought maybe I could come down here and donate to somebody else and maybe she can get a blood transfusion," Mike Vafadar said.
Vafadar's wife was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two months ago. He's donating blood while she waits for a transfusion.
"It both makes you feel good in your spirit and in your body, you know?" he said.
He's at MD Anderson at a good time. The shelves, which normally hold blood and platelets, are empty. Some patients need that blood every single day.
"Today, for example, we have this long, long list of patients waiting for platelets but we do not have enough for everybody, so we have to give priority to patients who have low counts or are currently bleeding," Dr. Fernando Martinez said.
Transfusion medicine nurse Mina Azarian said first thing Wednesday they had orders for 50 units but only enough blood for about 10.
The blood bank typically relies on outside centers from Austin or Dallas during a shortage, but those facilities are also affected by flooding, so there's nowhere to turn this time.
"There's been flooding all around us so people are having a hard time getting in, planes can't fly in because of rain, people can't drive in because the roads are blocked," Azarian said.
People like Vafadar wish more people would take the time to donate blood to give families like his a fighting chance.
The MD Anderson blood bank is open seven days a week. To reach them call: (713) 792-7777