Blood transfusions saved the life of little Ava Northey and now her dad, Lake Illawarra Police Sergeant Peter Northey, is rolling up his sleeves to help others in need.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ava, now five, was struck down literally overnight by Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder where the body's immune system damages nerves.
"One morning a couple of years ago she got up and just fell over," Sgt Northey said. "We took her to Wollongong Hospital and she was transferred to Sydney Children's Hospital where she was diagnosed.
"Within hours of having a blood transfusion, where the immunity from other people's blood plasma was used to attack the Guillain-Barré syndrome, she was almost back to normal. Two transfusions and she was fine with no lingering side effects.
"But we came so close to losing her, and we're eternally grateful to random strangers who gave their blood to save our daughter. Now I'm grateful for the opportunity to give back."
Sgt Northey has since donated regularly to Australian Red Cross LifeBlood, and on Friday he joined around 35 other officers from the Lake Illawarra and Wollongong police districts at the Wollongong blood bank as part of the Bleed4Blue drive.
Now in its fourth year, the statewide drive was established after Detective Sergeant John Breda lost almost 12 litres of blood when he was stabbed during a police operation in Sydney. The medical team used more than 100 bags of blood to keep him alive.
In addition to the summer drive, police officers across NSW will be attempting to break the record for the number of donations by a group in a single day - which stands at 230.
Lyn Lindley is the donor centre manager at Wollongong which needs 200 blood donors every week this December, with the days between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve of most critical need.
"The need for blood never takes a break and donated blood will be needed every day between now and Christmas to treat many sick and seriously ill people across Australia," she said.
"December is the time for all of us to do what police do so well - roll up our sleeves and lend an arm when it's most needed."
To donate blood, visit lifeblood.com.au or call 13 14 95.
The Illawarra Mercury newsroom is funded by our readers. You can subscribe to support our journalism here.
