Red Cross holds appreciation dinner for donors

The American Red Cross Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region held an apheresis appreciation dinner recently at Southeast Hospital to thank those who have donated platelets.

Apheresis -- a process of donating a single component of blood, such as platelets -- became an established part of the Red Cross blood program in 1972.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant or open-heart surgery depend on platelets in order to survive their treatments.

For information on becoming an apheresis donor, call (800) GIVE-LIFE or visit www.americanredcrossblood.org.