Cedars-Sinai Blog
Jantzn May is Saving Lives One Donation at a Time
Meet Jantzn May! He's a regular visitor to the Cedars-Sinai blood donation center, where he makes lifesaving platelet donations.
He's been making the trip once a month for the last 4 years.
"It's really so simple and makes such a big difference. If you have the time, just go in and do it. If you're scared, I will come with you."
Jantzn started donating thanks to his favorite morning radio show. Regular listeners of KROQ's Kevin and Bean are familiar with the pair's annual Halloween blood drive for Cedars-Sinai. Each year, hundreds of eager donors flock to the blood drive, including Jantzn.
At first Jantzn donated whole blood. But then he learned that donating platelets was extremely valuable and something he could do more often.
Platelets are collected for transfusion through a method called apheresis, a process of simultaneously removing platelets from a donor's blood and returning the blood to the donor.
It takes a little longer than donating whole blood, but because platelets have a shorter shelf life than whole blood, they are in higher demand.
Once Jantzn saw how easy it was, he made donating platelets a part of his routine.
"I do what I can. My resources are limited, but I'm always thinking of creative ways to do something."
"Kevin and Bean always said donating blood was the easiest thing you could to change someone's life, and they were right," says Jantzn. "Everyone at Blood Donor Services is so friendly, and they make it so easy."
Jantzn, an LA native who works as an on-demand handyman and writer, has always had a desire to help people. In addition to donating platelets, he gives out socks to the homeless during colder months and hosts a toy drive during the holidays.
"I do what I can. My resources are limited, but I'm always thinking of creative ways to do something," says Jantzn.
What's Jantzn's advice to someone who's reluctant or afraid to donate blood or platelets?
"It's really so simple and makes such a big difference," he says. "If you have the time, just go in and do it. If you're scared, I will come with you."
Ready to make a blood or platelet donation? Use these tips to prepare:
- Maintain healthy iron levels by eating iron-rich foods such as red meat, fish, poultry, beans, spinach, iron-fortified cereals, and raisins.
- Get a good night's sleep.
- Avoid excessive alcohol consumption before your donation.
- Eat normally and drink extra fluids before and after your donation.
- If you are donating platelets, remember that you cannot take aspirin for 2 days prior to the donation.
- Bring your driver's license or another form of photo ID.
For more information or to make an appointment to donate blood, call 310-423-5346 or visit Cedars-Sinai Blood Donor Services.
