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Angela Litchfield, left, holding her blood donor card |
‘Giving blood is a privilege’
Having donated blood 90 times, one woman bears the proud scars of her generosity
THE scar tissue in the crook of Angela Litchfield’s right arm – a testament to 30 years of giving blood – is not the only evidence of her heroism.
The 58-year-old administrator for the Metropolitan Police, who lives with her civil servant husband Alan, in Broomsleigh Street, West Hampstead, was also given a police commendation for wrestling her neighbour’s car stereo from a thief in 1993.
She has collected three awards since a colleague at the opticians in Great Portland Street, where she was working 32 years ago, suggested she accompany her to the National Blood Service in Margaret Street, Westminster.
“I was brought up to know the difference between right and wrong,” said Mrs Litchfield, explaining her motivation for giving blood 90 times.
She grew up with her grandparents in Wales while her father drove steam trains across Britain and her mother, a housekeeper, cleaned the houses of the well-to-do. Her strict moral code is not one she imposes on others.
“It’s people’s choice,” she said. “I think it’s a good choice myself but some people may not be able to give and be disappointed. I would never tell someone not to smoke. My mother smoked all her life and when she died her lungs were as clear as a bell. I am an ‘each to their own’ kind of a person.”
Before the needle punctures the skin, anaesthetic is rubbed in so donors hardly feel a thing, she claims.
“It doesn’t hurt,” she said, “and I don’t mind doing it so I couldn’t ever see a reason not to do it. It doesn’t cost me anything.”
The only time she has not been able to attend the clinic for her quarterly appointment was when she contracted shingles five years ago. Otherwise she does not smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol and considers herself to be relatively healthy.
She has witnessed the clinic she attends every three months become increasingly conscious of EU health and safety legislation and financial pressures.
Questionnaires about a donor’s sexual promiscuity, trips abroad and previous infections, as well as the haemoglobin test – which monitors any deficiencies or diseases in the blood – have become more stringent.
She counts six times in recent years she has been told her haemoglobin is too low for her to give blood. The generous spreads of cold meats, cakes, juice and breads have been replaced with a simple offer of tea and biscuits.
At an awards ceremony honouring long-serving blood donors held at the New Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden, in June, Mrs Litchfield met Julie Henderson, 29, of Adelaide Road, who suffered internal bleeding during a caesarean nearly two years ago and could have died had it not been for voluntary blood donors.
Ms Henderson said: “It’s important it’s voluntary because some people physically can’t do it but a lot of people don’t do it when they could. I’m extremely grateful to those that do.”
Mrs Litchfield imagines she may have also helped children’s hospitals, baby units and the survivors of the 7/7 bombings over the years.
“I don’t consider it a duty,” she said. “I consider it a privilege to give something that I’ve been asked to do rather than told to do. I never know when I might need blood myself and if I do I hope I can look to somebody to help me out.”
UPCOMING DONOR CLINICS
• The West End Donor Centre in Margaret Street: Monday-Friday 8am-7.30pm
• Conway Hall, 25, Red Lion Square, in Holborn: Monday August 18,
Friday September 5 and Monday September 29, 9.30am-12.30pm and 2pm-4pm
• Kentish Town Church of England School, Islip Street: Saturday August 23,
9.15am-12.30pm and 2-4.15pm |
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