Calgarians in Mexico put out urgent call for O+ blood donors, after local blood bank runs out
Sarah Rieger | CBC News | Posted: February 18, 2018 1:55 AM | Last Updated: February 18, 2018
Troy Black is on life-support in Puerto Vallarta
UPDATE: Troy Black has died in Puerto Vallarta, less than a day after his wife put out a call on social media for blood donations.
A Calgary woman has put out an urgent call for Type O+ blood donors in Mexico after her husband suddenly fell ill on vacation.
Troy Black is on life-support in Puerto Vallarta, on Mexico's west coast.
His wife, Lindsay Black, said Troy fell ill on Thursday and doctors discovered he had a tear in his esophagus that won't clot.
He was given six bags of O+ blood at the local hospital, which was all they had.
By Friday morning, the hospital was completely out of O+ blood for transfusions.
Troy can't have a second endoscopy until his condition has stabilized internally, but to do that, the doctors require more blood for transfusions.
So, Lindsay put out a call on social media, begging any Calgarians in the area to help her husband and donate blood at the Puerto Vallarta Blood Bank at the San Javier Hospital.
Melissa Brathwaite, a close friend of the couple, said eight people who were matches for Troy have donated since they put the call out.
"Eight people who wouldn't have known yesterday, but not nearly enough. There is still a very dire need," she said.
The Puerto Vallarta Blood Bank's phone number is + 52 (322) 226 1010. Donors must be over 18 years old, weigh more than 50 kilograms, and not have had any alcohol in the past 48 hours. More details are available on the hospital's website.
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