In a race against time, Lifeblood has launched an urgent nationwide search for blood donors with rare blood types to come forward and help save the life of a South Australian mother-of-two, Amira. The 37-year-old is battling a critical medical condition that requires immediate open-heart surgery, and finding a suitable blood match has proven to be a challenging task due to her exceptionally rare blood type, with only one in 10,000 people potentially being a match.
Amira, currently admitted to an Adelaide hospital, is anticipated to need more than 20 units of blood before, during, and after her lifesaving procedure. Lifeblood Medical Director, Dr James Daly, explained the complexity of Amira’s situation, stating, ‘Most people have either O or A blood type, but Amira has a unique combination of other blood types that need to be matched. This means that any donor with O or A blood type might hold the key to being a perfect match.’
The medical team has already identified a few potential donors, but due to the substantial blood requirement for Amira’s surgery, more donors with the specific rare blood type are desperately needed. Dr Daly emphasised the importance of finding as many suitable donors as possible, not only for the immediate transfusion needs but also to ensure an adequate supply for Amira’s future medical needs.
The shortage of the rare blood type has forced Lifeblood to look beyond Australian borders and collaborate with international blood services to identify potential donors. While they hope to receive some units from overseas, at least 15 donors with the same rare combination of blood types are still needed within the next few weeks to proceed safely with Amira’s surgery.
Amira’s husband, Ahmed, expressed his gratitude to the kind-hearted souls who have already stepped forward to donate blood in the hope of being a match for his wife. ‘We are so grateful to family, friends, and the wonderful people in the community, many of whom we do not even know, who have heard about Amira’s plight and have rolled up their sleeves to donate blood,’ Ahmed said emotionally.
With time running out, Ahmed urged people across the country with O and A blood types to come forward and donate blood this week, as every contribution could make a life-saving difference. He stressed that this unexpected and challenging situation has highlighted the significance of community support and kindness. ‘This is not a situation you ever expect to find yourself in. Any help or support is much appreciated.’
To be a potential match for Amira, donors must meet the following criteria:
- Must have blood type ‘O’ or ‘A’ (If you are unsure about your blood type, you should still donate to check for a possible match).
If you are willing to be a hero in Amira’s journey to recovery, you can join the search by booking a donation through lifeblood.com.au, calling 13 14 95, or downloading the Donate Blood app. Your act of kindness could be the key to saving a life and bringing hope to a desperate family in need.
In this moment of crisis, let us come together as a nation to support Amira and others like her who depend on the generosity of strangers to see them through the toughest battles of their lives. Together, we can make a difference and give the gift of life to those who need it most.
To book a donation or for further info, click here.
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