EAMC Employee Becomes First COVID-19 Plasma Donor in Alabama for LifeSouth
Eryn Morris, RN, a care coordinator at East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC), was one of the first COVID-19 patients in Chambers County. Today, she became LifeSouth Blood Center’s first recovered COVID-19 plasma donor in Alabama. The plasma from recovered patients contain antibodies, which are proteins in the blood. Preliminary studies show these antibodies can be helpful to hospitalized COVID patients by lessening the severity of the case.
Morris was tested at HealthPlus on March 20 and quarantined in her home for 17 days. It was during that time that Morris decided she wanted to donate plasma as soon as she could. “I had a lot of time at home to think about the patients in the hospital who were so sick with COVID-19,” said Morris during her plasma donation today in Opelika. “My body was strong enough to fight off COVID, but somebody else may not be able to and could benefit from the antibodies in my plasma.”
With April being National Donate Life Month, Morris couldn’t help but to also think about her sister, Yvonne, who died six years ago this month in Gainesville, Fla. from a cerebral hemorrhage. Yvonne, 42 at the time of her death, was an organ donor and Morris brought Yvonne’s picture with her today as inspiration for this donation that could also save lives.
Morris has worked at EAMC for 23 years and made many friends, including Brooke Bailey, EAMC’s Infection Prevention director. Bailey, who has been at the forefront of the COVID crisis at EAMC, is not surprised at Morris’ donation. “She called us way before we even began collaborating with LifeSouth,” states Bailey. “It’s a privilege to know we have her and others at EAMC who are willing to give back during this time to help sicker patients recover from COVID.”
Like blood, plasma is type-specific meaning that Morris’ A-positive plasma will have to be matched to an A-positive patient. Processing takes only about 24 hours, so her plasma donation will be available as early as Friday night. Eligible donors should register at https://lifesouth.bio-linked.org/, and LifeSouth will contact those who register directly. For questions regarding donation, email LifeSouth at medicaloffice@lifesouth.org or call (888) 795-2707. Let them know you are donating to East Alabama Medical Center.