Tom Murray (from left) says he wouldn't be here today without people like Derek Game. Photo / George Novak
Tom Murray (from left) says he wouldn't be here today without people like Derek Game. Photo / George Novak
Tom Murray wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for people like Derek Game.
But it's stories like Murray's that make Game's sacrifice seem so small.
The pair met for the first time on World Blood Day yesterday, so that Game could see the effect his plasma donations can haveand Murray could put a face to one of the many NZ Blood donors.
Murray has been experiencing seizures over the past four years as a result of the brain virus encephalitis.
Tom Murray (from left) says he wouldn't be here today without people like Derek Game. Photo / George Novak
He receives plasma twice every three weeks to replace the antibodies in his system to help combat the effects.
Game said his commitment to donating blood over the past 30 years was nothing compared to what Murray had to go through.
"My hour [donating] every two weeks is nothing."
But for people like Murray, Game's gift means much more.
"I'm just lucky to be alive. I am so grateful, I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for people like you," Murray said laying a hand on Game's shoulder.
"You do a great job, there's no doubt about that."
World Blood Day was on June 14. Photo / NZME
Game began donating to the NZ Blood Service when a company he was working for encouraged workers to donate at a mobile blood centre when it came by.
"Needless to say I have just carried it on because it's a good thing to do. I actually feel funny when I don't do it."
In the past six years Game has started to donate plasma, and together with his NZ Blood Service teammates they have donated 995 times.
"It does so much good, clearly, for people like Tom. We've saved around about 1400 people from our donations."
Meeting Murray was the icing on the cake, he said.
"You lie there for an hour and you wonder who it's affecting, who it's helping. It's great to see for a long time, it's helped [people like] him."
Nearly 30,000 New Zealanders need blood every year - that's roughly one person every 18 minutes - but it's a constant battle for the NZ Blood Service to keep up with demand.
Murray said he wished he could go back in time and donate blood, but it never crossed his mind when he didn't need it.
"It could be your father, your mother or your children that need it one day."
Asuka Burge, national manager, marketing and communications at New Zealand Blood Service, said less than four per cent of eligible adults donated but those who did could save up to three lives with just one donation.
Donated blood can be separated into several components, including red blood cells, platelets and plasma, and treat different types of patients, including burns and accident victims, patients undergoing surgery or transplants and adults and children suffering from leukaemia.
Burge said O+ and A+ were the two biggest blood groups in New Zealand. People with this blood type often think their blood isn't needed because it's so common, but the exact opposite was true.
