Hi, I am new to NoBlood.org.
I would like to share my story of how I survived with non blood products.
In 1997, I became seriously ill with mononucleosis. In addition to this and as a complication I had Hepatitis A. Which of course caused jaundice and then haemolytic anaemia. I never do things by halves!!
Anyway. As my blood cells were just dissolving, I was encouraged to have e-poetin. Before I became too ill to make a decision, I had already decided that if it was not genetically engineered that I would not have it, as it contains some blood and this is against my christian conscience.
The doctors here in England wanted to give me a blood transfusion as my blood count had gone down to 4.8! They gave me a 10% chance of living that night, and I can assure you that mentally and indeed physically, I fought with all my life that night. They gave me steroid treatment and saline drips. The upshot was that I spent 3 weeks in hospital. The doctors could not understand why I had survived. They then discovered that if they had given me a blood transfusion that I would most certainly have died. I did not have the immune system to cope with it.
Today, I still suffer a little from tiredness due to the glandular fever, but other than that, I have a 20 month old son and am very much alive and kicking!!!
Never be scared to stand up for what you want. It's your right as an individual, and as a patient.
If anyone out there needs encouragement, send me a private e-mail!
sister clubley