ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608290067
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY STAFF WRITER
HER MOTHER'S experience compelled the Allstate employee to give - and ask others to give.
Claims processor Becky Meador gave some unexpected help Wednesday to an American Red Cross worker asking Allstate Insurance Co. employees to become blood platelet donors.
Meador told how her mother, who lives near Beckley, W.Va., has cancer and recently needed 40 platelet transfusions. The platelets were provided by the Red Cross in Roanoke.
As a thank-you, Meador said, she became a donor herself and had already begun a drive to get new donors when the Red Cross pheresis recruiting coordinator, Shannon Lowe, came to explain the process.
Platelets are the cells the body uses to control bleeding and are required to treat specific diseases, such as cancer and leukemia. They also are used in operations.
Allstate, which has blood drives four times a year at its Roanoke County offices, has become the first Roanoke Valley company to structure a formal plateletpheresis (PLATE-let-fuh-REE-sis) program.
This special donation process removes platelets from the blood and returns the blood to the body. It takes about two hours and must be done at a Red Cross office.
Allstate has agreed to match an employee's platelet donor time by giving one hour of work time for the process. The company hopes to get enough volunteers to fill 12 of the 70 platelet appointment slots available per month.
And Meador's description of the process should help.
"Actually my life is so hectic right now with two little ones and my mom in the hospital, it was relaxing to me. They put you in a recliner covered with a warm blanket and you have your own VCR and TV," Meador said. "It was two hours of peace and quiet."
Lowe is trying to expand the Red Cross platelet donor list by getting companies to support the project. Nationwide Insurance Co. in Lynchburg also is part of the program.
Nationwide will give an employee 21/2 hours off four times a year in which to donate whole blood or platelets. If the employee wants to donate at other times, the company will give a half-day off for each time up to four, Lowe said.
Potential donors in Roanoke can call 985-3521; for appointments in the Lynchburg office, call (804) 846-4620. Lowe is available to answer questions at 985-3571.
LENGTH: Medium: 53 linesby CNB