Some Pinoys in Italy donate their blood to save others' lives

Hundreds of Filipinos in Italy demonstrate their heroism in their willingness to donate blood to save the lives of others, through the Filipino Blood Donors of Milan (FBDM).

"More than 900 Filipino donors and a few other nationalities comprise the FBDM," shared Tessie Acuña, 65, co-founder and official representative of the organization. 

Photos courtesy of Tessie Acuña

"The FBDM was founded on June 2, 2014, and our collaboration with the Policlinico di Milano started right after this date," she said.

Likewise, she said, "My husband is a cancer survivor and is still alive after having been in coma, two stem cell transplants, and continuous chemo and immunotherapy from September 2010 until the present.”

Recently, the FBDM responded to an urgent need for 30 bags of blood for a liver transplant in Policlinico di Milano, according to Acuña.

It has also donated blood to all the patients – regardless of nationality – in need of blood transfusion in Policlinico di Milano, Monzino Heart Center, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), and Gaetano Pini Orthopedic Institute, among seven others in the Lombardy region.

Donors, on the other hand, would either learn about the presence of gallbladder and other stones or the occurrence of hepatitis B in their blood analysis results, and  the process is benefiting them as well.

“For every bag of blood donated, three lives are saved because those three separated components are destined to three different patients. No money is involved. Just our precious life-saving blood,” she added in an interview via Messenger on July 30.

The FBDM is an external wing for the blood donation drive of its mother association, Policlinico Donatori di Sangue ODV founded by former Health Minister Dr/Prof. Girolamo Sirchia. —LBG, GMA News