“My family tested positive for covid a few days after my brother’s final exams. We don’t know what exactly caused it, but despite strict precautions, the virus finally arrived at our doorstep and we started falling ill.
Thankfully, for us, the quarantine period passed without any major complications. Not every family was this lucky though. I saw the numbers rising every day. I lost a few close relatives to this pandemic. Many of my friends lost their parents. For them, their suffering and weakness ended in a state of oblivion. Having seen my parents in their time of weakness while they were so close to being lost, I was shaken to my core.
It was at this time that I saw the poster for the plasma donation drive, Dhundh. I knew that this was my chance to help. I registered with them for a slot post Eid. Two days before Eid, However, I got a call from a school friend of mine whose uncle was critically ill and needed plasma urgently. The only donor that they could find was deemed unfit by the hospital. My father and I broke our fast and drove to the hospital to donate our plasma.
Back in 2019, my family was not able to find a blood donor for my grandmother in the requisite time, which led to her demise. I knew, more than anyone else, that time was of the essence. We hurried to the hospital and rushed through the processes, finally donating the required amount of plasma to the patient.
A few hours ago, I received the news that my friend’s uncle has finally tested negative and is recording well. I can’t describe what it feels like to have saved a life.
One of the major reasons for people to not donate plasma is that it is a cumbersome process. It is very time-consuming and requires great patience. But, a man’s life cannot be priced against a few hours of my time. I wish that more people could understand that.”
This is the story of Aatif, who is a third-year student at BITS Pilani and has recently donated his plasma. His story is a strong reminder to everyone that a small flutter of the wings of a butterfly today can cause a storm tomorrow.
#covidtimes #helpinghuman #battleoflife #butterflyeffect #joyofgiving #letswintogether #kindness #valueoflife❤️ https://www.instagram.com/p/CQD9UnJs7P1/?utm_medium=tumblr
Note: this story was written before ICMR's announcement regarding the efficacy of the plasma therapy. This story is not aimed at promoting plasma donation but was written to encourage people to help the ones in need.