By Jennifer Fulginiti
October 10, 2025
Each year, millions of people around the world help save lives by rolling up their sleeves and donating plasma — the starting material for lifesaving medicine used in treating rare diseases and in everyday medical settings.
Plasma, the straw-colored liquid portion of blood, contains hundreds of lifesaving proteins and antibodies that support the body’s immune system, regulate blood clotting, protect organs, reduce inflammation, and neutralize harmful substances and infectious agents.
Behind every plasma donation is a patient or family whose life has been changed by plasma-derived medicines. International Plasma Awareness Week highlights the voices of patients, caregivers, and medical professionals whose experiences illustrate the impact of plasma donations, capturing the spirit of this year's theme, Plasma Powers Possibility:
- “I would like to say thank you so much. Honestly, from the bottom of my heart, without you, without the time that you take to donate plasma, myself and my family and the people in my community that I love very much would not be here.” -Nikole Scappe-Hagen, von Willebrand Disease
- “My daughter’s plasma medication changed her life for the better.” - Samantha Javorka, VWD patient caregiver
- “IVIG was literally the difference between life and death for my babies affected by HDFN. IVIG has allowed me and my family to thrive. Thank you, donors!” – Bethany Weathersby, Founder and Executive Director, AlloHope Foundation
- “I have a PI Agammaglobulinema/Bruton, and I learned to live with it since I was born. I love my life. I have a normal life. Thankfully, I will get married next month to a beautiful, lovely girl who loves me so much. I'm very thankful for what plasma donors do for me and many others. Thank you!” - Ricardo Pereira, PI Agammaglobulinema/Bruton patient
- “I am now 68 years old. After 34 years and 442 IGIV infusions, I am still active, working out at the gym, playing with my 66-year-old grandson, and traveling with my spouse, Theresa. It’s so amazing compared to my previous life as an undiagnosed CVID patient with continuous infections and near-zero quality of life. I hope to be able to celebrate my 500th lifesaving infusion somewhere around October 2029. To all the plasma donors, past, present, and future: THANK YOU!" – Terry Halper, CVID
And of course, it’s important to highlight the voices behind #PlasmaPowersPossibility – plasma donors themselves, the everyday heroes among us:
- “My boys, Ben and Brad, who also donate, are Rh babies. I give because people gave so I could have my babies.” - Jackie Godrio, plasma donor
- “I think that whoever is able to donate should try it! Let’s not get comfortable, let’s not make excuses — if we have the opportunity, donate plasma! It is always a good feeling. Because we never know whether we or a loved one will need these medicines one day.” - Gábor Kusnir, donor
These personal stories remind us that every donation represents a life made better, whether it’s a child who can attend school, an adult who can return to work, or a parent who can see their family grow.
During IPAW and beyond, you can be a plasma hero!
- Donate plasma regularly if you are eligible.
- Share patient stories and facts about plasma on your social media channels.
- Spread awareness to friends and family about plasma-derived medicines.
Visit plasmaweek.org year-round to spread the word, access resources, and learn more about the importance of plasma donation. Together, we can ensure patients and their families have continued access to the treatments they depend on and keep the patient voice at the heart of plasma awareness.
If you enjoyed reading these stories, consider sharing your own here.
There’s no better time than IPAW to get involved! You can help in many ways, including donating plasma, getting the word out about the uniqueness of plasma-derived medicines, and encouraging local lawmakers to take legislative actions to benefit patients. Visit www.plasmaweek.org to get started.
PPTA is proud to work in partnership with patient organizations. If you or someone you know is looking for patient resources, visit the below websites:
Europe
- Orphanet
International
North America