Sharing his best red to help others

LCDR David Waldie achieved a special milestone during this year’s Defence Blood Drive after making his 100th blood or plasma donation.

“It’s 100, which isn’t really that many, but it is 100 more than people who haven’t begun,” LCDR Waldie said.

“In the Navy, we are all likeminded, we are all service orientated, so why wouldn’t we come give blood or plasma?”

Every fortnight, LCDR Waldie attends his local Chatswood branch, donating life-saving plasma, with each visit helping up to five strangers he’ll never meet.

“It’s the anonymous part of it that adds to it. I don’t need to know these people, but just knowing I have perhaps helped them is enough for me,” LCDR Waldie said.  

And a little plasma goes a long way. It’s the key ingredient that creates 18 different life-saving and life-changing therapies, supporting those living with immune deficiencies, neurological conditions, clotting disorders, burns and a range of other serious medical conditions.

In the spirit of service, donating blood or plasma aligns with Defence values.

“In the ADF, we wear a uniform for a reason. Service is a big part of that, and this is a service,” LCDR Waldie said.

“The type of people who join the Navy have that in their DNA, and I think that Lifeblood, giving plasma every fortnight, is just an extension of that.”

The nurses at Lifeblood speak of the community created by donors, with Lifeblood nurse Yasmine saying they become part of the family.

“They come back, and after their third or fourth visit, you start to build that friendship. You continue on the things you spoke about last time, and it keeps going on. It is really nice,” Yasmine said.

Despite coming from a diverse range of backgrounds, all volunteers have the same thing in common.

“They are all so nice, everyone is so lovely. Everyone has their own reasons why they come here and they are all valid reasons, but it is so great to see them all come together,” Yasmine said.

There’s a high priority placed on plasma donations this year. Australia needs about 33,000 donations every week to meet demand and Lifeblood needs more than 1.7 million donations every year to meet demand.

Which is why LCDR Waldie’s final message to all those in the ADF is simple.

“I give blood or plasma because I can. Not everyone can, and I tell everyone that will listen. It’s part of what we do. So come and do this. You’ll help a lot of people out,” LCDR Waldie said.