Is there a chance you could donate platelets?

I am writing this column from Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv.

But just before my three readers die of a heart attack or run to find out from their cousin's boyfriend what my name is and what my mother's name is, may she live, I will reassure them and say: Thank God, everything is fine with me. I feel great (as much as possible, within the limitations of the situation of the hostages, the socio-economic situation, the weather, the Prime Minister, and the snoozing neighbor who constantly blocks my parking space) and I am healthy (blessed be He and blessed be His name) with a healthy Ivri and a healthy Gidi.

Here, I'm already receiving texts as I write: "Stop stressing us out! What were you doing there, at Ichilov?""

So let's go back six months.

The team I volunteer with at the Ihud Hatzalah organization was joined by a very senior doctor who runs one of the departments at the hospital. And beyond that, he also volunteers every free moment he has, and jumps to any emergency call in the field, as if he were unemployed or retired.

This doctor, during one of his periodic training sessions, asked volunteers to come to Ichilov and donate platelets (see explanation below) for cancer patients, following a terrible shortage at the time.

I registered with him, and Ilana (see explanation below) called me and coordinated VIP parking in the management parking lot, free of charge, and asked me to arrive at a certain time.

That was six months ago.

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The entire story takes place on the first floor of a building with a long and complicated name, down a long, long hallway with old-fashioned green terrazzo flooring.

In a small room, several beds are placed in a row with devices next to them. Across the wall, separated by Block 7, two layers of plaster and countless layers of paint, lie cancer patients on completely different beds. Children and adults whose lives the damned disease is trying to destroy, and the doctors are trying to save what they can.

One of the things destroyed by this damn disease are platelets (a component in the blood that we all have). The only way to overcome the deficiency in patients is to receive a bag of platelets donated by someone else.

You can't get powder or pills from the pharmacy. It won't help if you get a special prescription from a health insurance doctor. If you lack platelets in your body, and no one comes to donate, all the doctors' efforts won't help.

To my deep regret, every time I've arrived so far, all the beds in the small room have been empty of donors. In contrast, the only time I dared to cross the hall to visit the doctor who volunteers with me - the beds were full. Full of children and adults. Women and men. And most of them need platelets.

And the beds on the donor side were empty.

Empty of people who can dedicate a few hours at a time, a little discomfort, and parking (and delicious coffee) - free.

Any person over the age of 18, healthy, not taking medication, can donate platelets and save many other patients. One platelet dose, distributed, saves many patients.

All you have to do is call Ilana, the person in charge of the Ichilov blood bank, and get an accurate explanation from her, politely and with a shy smile.

Call her. Let's fill the donor beds - and empty the patient beds.

Her number is: 03-6973473

And I, the little one, ask: How do the United Torah Judaism MKs even know what a text message is? Does one of their parliamentary assistants have an unkosher device?

your,

Micah Sholem.

Responses, comments, clarifications, and likes are welcome at the bottom of the column.