The blood collected through donations is used to treat illnesses and injuries, so it is also called the "baton of life."

Since blood cannot be artificially produced and stored for a long time, it can only be covered by blood donations.

And those who have received a blood transfusion even once cannot cooperate with blood donation.

A man who once suffered from acute lymphocytic leukemia and whose life was saved by a blood transfusion is delivering the "baton of life" to patients by means other than blood donation.
(Osaka Broadcasting Station Shiawase News Reporting Team Mayumi Onoda)

The Osaka Red Cross Blood Center, located in Joto Ward, Osaka, is the "heart of Osaka" that manages blood collected at blood donation rooms throughout the Kansai region and delivers it to about 2000,2 medical institutions in the prefecture.

Ryo Nagatsuka, 23, who is in his second year working in the Supply Section, faces his work with a special feeling.

This is a Twitter account that Mr. Nagazuka wrote when he was in his first year of high school.

Nagazuka's Twitter

"This anticancer drug is really scary.

At the time, Nagatsuka was suffering from acute lymphocytic leukemia, which is said to be a cancer of the blood.

Since it was no longer possible to produce blood due to treatment with anticancer drugs, "blood transfusion" was indispensable.

During his stay in the hospital, he said that every time he received multiple blood transfusions, he felt better.

Ryo
Nagatsuka: "I had a blood transfusion as a set with chemotherapy, and my life fighting the disease was much harder than I had imagined. If I didn't have blood, I probably would have had some kind of complication and probably ended my life at that time."

I can't help donating blood, but...

2016 Ms. Nagazuka fighting illness

After more than two years of treatment, the cancer is gone, and the patient recovers to the point where he can lead the same life as before.

Having blood in hospitals is not a matter of course.

I want to thank you for donating blood and pass on the happiness I have obtained to someone else.

He says he came to think so.

However, those who have received a "blood transfusion" even once cannot donate blood.

"What I can do" is to deliver blood to patients.

I decided that I could not cooperate with blood donation, but I would be the "baton runner" who would connect lives.

Ms
. Ryo Nagatsuka: "I think working for the Red Cross is both my destiny and my mission because my life was connected by blood donations.

Connecting lives to be a "baton runner"

At work, Mr. Nagazuka is in charge of adjusting inventory and arranging deliveries so that orders from hospitals can be fulfilled immediately.

Before shipment, we will check the condition of the blood.

platelet

For example, if you shake the yellow liquid of "platelets" used to treat leukemia under an electric light, a "fog" as shown in the photo appears.

This state is proof that the cells are breathing and are healthy.

The shelf life of platelets is only 4 days, and since they are particularly difficult to manage, they are strictly checked one by one each time and sent out.

Ryo
Nagatsuka: "If I can do this job, I want to continue it for the rest of my life, and I think it will become my life itself."

More than 80% of blood donations are used to treat serious diseases such as cancer

What happens to the blood collected through blood donations and transported to the hospital?

I think there is a strong image that it is used for injury treatment and surgery, but it is only a small amount of the total.

According to the Japan Red Cross, more than 80 percent of the total is used to treat serious diseases such as cancer and leukemia.

Mr. Nagazuka went from waiting for blood to delivering blood.

In the future, I would like to focus on spreading blood donation.

For someone who wants to live!

We will continue to run hard to pass on the baton of life.