A MAN whose daughter had half her blood replaced during a life-saving operation has reiterated the importance of blood donors.
More than 5,000 people from Nottingham have given blood in the last two years, while over 8,800 from Notts signed up in the last 12 months.
Now, NHS Blood and Transplant wants more donors to come forward as part of National Blood Week, which ends on Sunday.
Regular blood donor David Allen has highlighted the importance donations played in helping his daughter, Hannah.
The 22-year-old needed six units of B minus blood while undergoing a double lung transplant due to cystic fibrosis last December.
The human body contains between ten and 12 units.
Mr Allen, 45, of Sneinton, said: "She got through quite a lot of blood to ensure she survived the operation.
"Her blood was being circulated by a machine, and the new units were being added to her.
"It dawned on me while I was holding her hand in the early critical care days how essential blood donation is. Looking at the blood going in, I never thought I would be in that position to be on the receiving end of blood products.
"Those packs of blood were given as a donation and helped to sustain the life of my daughter."
Hannah, who was born with cystic fibrosis, underwent the 12-hour operation at Papworth Hospital, Cambridgeshire.
Mr Allen said: "She had became so unwell that she was more frequently in hospital than out.
"Her breathing became so short and shallow that her lung function was around 13 per cent – it was the equivalent of her pinching her nose together and trying to breathe through a straw."
Six months on from the operation, Mr Allen said Hannah is continuing on her road to recovery.
"Hannah was very fortunate that she got a transplant," he said.
"Without the donor it's almost certain the outcome would have been very different. Now she has an opportunity to live her life and get some quality out of her life which wasn't there before."
Mr Allen himself started donating blood in 1990 following the death of his mother, Margaret Allen, of the Edwards Lane estate, who died of cancer aged 52.
He estimates to have given blood around 45 times, and currently makes a donation every ten weeks.
Mr Allen said: "I started to donate three weeks after Hannah was born.
"It was the passing of my mum that inspired me to become a donor. It was one of those things that you always think about and never do, but that spurred me on.
"I find it's pain-free and I'm done within ten minutes."
NHS Blood and Transplant say more than 45 per cent of the active blood donors in Notts are over the age of 45.
It is appealing for younger people, and those who could donate but no longer do so, to make a commitment to register to give blood during National Blood Week. Holly Mason, from NHS Blood and Transplant, said: . "For this year's National Blood Week, we hope the people of Notts will choose to sign up or come back and give blood to help save a life."
