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I Was Miserable for Weeks. Then I Found Out I Could Donate My Plasma. One of the Happiest Places in New York: The Plasma Donation Center
(about 4 hours later)
Like most other people on Earth, I had a really bad March.Like most other people on Earth, I had a really bad March.
I got the coronavirus around the time New York City was shutting down. As soon as I recovered, my boyfriend developed a raging fever that would last for two weeks, along with double pneumonia that eventually forced him to the emergency room. We spent about a month locked in our apartment.I got the coronavirus around the time New York City was shutting down. As soon as I recovered, my boyfriend developed a raging fever that would last for two weeks, along with double pneumonia that eventually forced him to the emergency room. We spent about a month locked in our apartment.
Those weeks of misery culminated in a gift: a positive antibody test. With it, I have had the privilege of being useful to my fellow New Yorkers in a moment when it is hard not to feel powerless in the face of so much suffering.Those weeks of misery culminated in a gift: a positive antibody test. With it, I have had the privilege of being useful to my fellow New Yorkers in a moment when it is hard not to feel powerless in the face of so much suffering.
Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan was one of the first hospitals in the country to develop an antibody test, which was available by late March. Since then, about 45,000 people have emailed the hospital, asking how to donate their antibody-rich plasma to New Yorkers fighting the virus.Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan was one of the first hospitals in the country to develop an antibody test, which was available by late March. Since then, about 45,000 people have emailed the hospital, asking how to donate their antibody-rich plasma to New Yorkers fighting the virus.
“We had more interest than I ever could have imagined,” said Dr. Ania Wajnberg, who runs the hospital’s new antibody donor identification program — and whose inbox was flooded with thousands of emails a day from prospective donors. “Given that a lot of the backdrop to this time has been horrifying, this particular piece of it has been a very positive thing to be involved in.”“We had more interest than I ever could have imagined,” said Dr. Ania Wajnberg, who runs the hospital’s new antibody donor identification program — and whose inbox was flooded with thousands of emails a day from prospective donors. “Given that a lot of the backdrop to this time has been horrifying, this particular piece of it has been a very positive thing to be involved in.”
I was sick early enough in the city’s outbreak to secure a spot in Mount Sinai’s study, along with more than 25,000 others who have reported to the hospital so far to have their blood tested.I was sick early enough in the city’s outbreak to secure a spot in Mount Sinai’s study, along with more than 25,000 others who have reported to the hospital so far to have their blood tested.
A few days after my blood test, I found out that I was part of an elite group of about 12,000 New Yorkers who had produced high enough levels of antibodies to donate plasma.A few days after my blood test, I found out that I was part of an elite group of about 12,000 New Yorkers who had produced high enough levels of antibodies to donate plasma.
At least 350 Covid-19 patients in the Mount Sinai system have been treated with plasma so far, and a recent study found that the transfusions improved survival rates for many of those patients.At least 350 Covid-19 patients in the Mount Sinai system have been treated with plasma so far, and a recent study found that the transfusions improved survival rates for many of those patients.
Trying to fit eight plasma donations, scheduled at least a week apart, into three months reminded me of a favorite Before Times activity: making restaurant reservations in a city where dining out can feel like a competitive sport.Trying to fit eight plasma donations, scheduled at least a week apart, into three months reminded me of a favorite Before Times activity: making restaurant reservations in a city where dining out can feel like a competitive sport.
The New York Blood Center is typically booked solid from 7:45 a.m. through the evening, and I rarely find a free appointment even when I call in the morning to ask about cancellations.The New York Blood Center is typically booked solid from 7:45 a.m. through the evening, and I rarely find a free appointment even when I call in the morning to ask about cancellations.
That competition has been productive: The Blood Center is collecting about 4,000 units of plasma a week. Most of the country’s plasma supply is coming from donors in New York.That competition has been productive: The Blood Center is collecting about 4,000 units of plasma a week. Most of the country’s plasma supply is coming from donors in New York.
When I started my own visits to the center at the peak of the city’s crisis, I soon discovered that it’s one of the last places in town that still feels like the New York City I have lived in all my life.When I started my own visits to the center at the peak of the city’s crisis, I soon discovered that it’s one of the last places in town that still feels like the New York City I have lived in all my life.
For the last six weeks, each of my visits has begun with a taxi ride through New York in purgatory.For the last six weeks, each of my visits has begun with a taxi ride through New York in purgatory.
New York still looks very much like its old self on the glorious trip over the Brooklyn Bridge and up the F.D.R. Drive, along the East River. But once we start weaving through Midtown, it’s eerily quiet until we reach the blocks around Weill-Cornell Hospital, where nurses and doctors take their breaks in empty schoolyards nearby.New York still looks very much like its old self on the glorious trip over the Brooklyn Bridge and up the F.D.R. Drive, along the East River. But once we start weaving through Midtown, it’s eerily quiet until we reach the blocks around Weill-Cornell Hospital, where nurses and doctors take their breaks in empty schoolyards nearby.
Then I open the doors of the Blood Center, and find a bustling mini-metropolis where I get the rare treat of spending time in the company of strangers.Then I open the doors of the Blood Center, and find a bustling mini-metropolis where I get the rare treat of spending time in the company of strangers.
I desperately miss the easy camaraderie I associate with leisurely day games at Citi Field, even and sometimes especially when the Mets are losing. The center, much like a ballpark, is an ideal place to make friends without ever exchanging names, to form a brief yet intense bond and never speak to them again.I desperately miss the easy camaraderie I associate with leisurely day games at Citi Field, even and sometimes especially when the Mets are losing. The center, much like a ballpark, is an ideal place to make friends without ever exchanging names, to form a brief yet intense bond and never speak to them again.
I have tried to recreate that thrill by perfecting an unsubtle but effective form of schmoozing while sitting with a large needle in my arm. I turn to the donors to the right and left of me, while their I.V. bags fill with bright yellow plasma, and stare into their eyes over my mask.I have tried to recreate that thrill by perfecting an unsubtle but effective form of schmoozing while sitting with a large needle in my arm. I turn to the donors to the right and left of me, while their I.V. bags fill with bright yellow plasma, and stare into their eyes over my mask.
Turns out, people at the center want to talk.Turns out, people at the center want to talk.
We chat about our coronavirus symptoms and antibody levels and offer tips about how to produce 600 milliliters of plasma as quickly as possible: Drink lots of water beforehand and vigorously pump the squeeze balls we are given.We chat about our coronavirus symptoms and antibody levels and offer tips about how to produce 600 milliliters of plasma as quickly as possible: Drink lots of water beforehand and vigorously pump the squeeze balls we are given.
Giving plasma requires some degree of concentration. Every few minutes, a machine will alert you to stop squeezing and let blood stripped of plasma flow back into your veins, which feels like a rush of cold air.Giving plasma requires some degree of concentration. Every few minutes, a machine will alert you to stop squeezing and let blood stripped of plasma flow back into your veins, which feels like a rush of cold air.
An easy way to bond is to inform a distracted neighbor that it’s time to stop (or start) pumping.An easy way to bond is to inform a distracted neighbor that it’s time to stop (or start) pumping.
Donors are eager to celebrate even small victories.Donors are eager to celebrate even small victories.
At one session, a woman to my left had been warned that her veins might be too thin to produce enough plasma. When she successfully filled up her bag, the entire row applauded.At one session, a woman to my left had been warned that her veins might be too thin to produce enough plasma. When she successfully filled up her bag, the entire row applauded.
During my first donation session, I was surrounded mostly by front-line workers. A doctor among the donors was informed that her plasma had already been matched with a hospitalized patient who matched her blood type. I know we were all beaming under our masks.During my first donation session, I was surrounded mostly by front-line workers. A doctor among the donors was informed that her plasma had already been matched with a hospitalized patient who matched her blood type. I know we were all beaming under our masks.
There is even a kind of reassuringly familiar frustration shared among donors when inconvenience strikes, as it tends to do in New York City.There is even a kind of reassuringly familiar frustration shared among donors when inconvenience strikes, as it tends to do in New York City.
There is a socially distanced line in the hallway entry to the center, where we gather before a nurse sticks a disposable thermometer under our tongues. Sometimes, things get backed up there, or we forget who is next up to get their finger pricked for iron levels.There is a socially distanced line in the hallway entry to the center, where we gather before a nurse sticks a disposable thermometer under our tongues. Sometimes, things get backed up there, or we forget who is next up to get their finger pricked for iron levels.
When eyes start to roll and feet start to tap impatiently, I am reminded of being stalled in a subway tunnel, sighing loudly with my fellow passengers, united in the delusion that our annoyance will propel the train forward.When eyes start to roll and feet start to tap impatiently, I am reminded of being stalled in a subway tunnel, sighing loudly with my fellow passengers, united in the delusion that our annoyance will propel the train forward.
The last stop of every session is a mandatory trip to the canteen, where we are asked to chug cranberry juice to ensure we don’t faint after losing all that blood.The last stop of every session is a mandatory trip to the canteen, where we are asked to chug cranberry juice to ensure we don’t faint after losing all that blood.
A certain degree of imagination is needed to make that room feel like a movie theater. But there we all are, alone together, chewing quietly at the little tables and watching a “Friends” rerun or old action movie on the wall-mounted television.A certain degree of imagination is needed to make that room feel like a movie theater. But there we all are, alone together, chewing quietly at the little tables and watching a “Friends” rerun or old action movie on the wall-mounted television.
The pandemic version of New York City, the place where vulnerable people are suffering even more than they were when our economy was booming, is on full display right outside the center’s front windows. The public school building across the street has turned into a food pantry, which draws scores of families who form a long line down East 67th Street.The pandemic version of New York City, the place where vulnerable people are suffering even more than they were when our economy was booming, is on full display right outside the center’s front windows. The public school building across the street has turned into a food pantry, which draws scores of families who form a long line down East 67th Street.
I have spent the last seven years writing about the city’s public schools, and my happiest days on the beat have taken place in crowded classrooms and cafeterias, chatting with students. I miss schools more than I ever would have imagined.I have spent the last seven years writing about the city’s public schools, and my happiest days on the beat have taken place in crowded classrooms and cafeterias, chatting with students. I miss schools more than I ever would have imagined.
I know I won’t be taking notes in the back of a classroom anytime soon.I know I won’t be taking notes in the back of a classroom anytime soon.
So I head to the Blood Center, the place where New York is still thriving, and New Yorkers are pumping life back into our city.So I head to the Blood Center, the place where New York is still thriving, and New Yorkers are pumping life back into our city.