COVID-19 survivor Iza Calzado marked Philippine Independence Day by donating her blood for plasma treatment research to boost patients’ immune systems.
Calzado and her manager Noel Ferrer went on social media on June 12, 2020, to share the good news that the popular actress was finally able to fulfill her wish to donate her blood at the U.P. Philippine General Hospital, a coronavirus disease center.
PGH uses convalescent plasma therapy, an experimental treatment that uses the plasma from the blood of recovered COVID-19 patients are transfused to patients in the hopes that their antibodies can help boost their immune systems to fight off infections.
Iza Calzado tested positive for COVID-19 in March and had since recovered. She immediately shared her story to the public to help remove the stigma against patients and said she would look for ways to show her gratitude.
But Calzado failed several tests for eligible plasma donors because of her low hemoglobin levels. She was finally given a go signal on June 9 to donate.
“I truly felt that this was one of the most powerful ways I could help my fellow Filipinos during this time,” Iza wrote in her Instagram post.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBVV7cCJHjI/?utm_source=ig_embed
In a separate post by Noel Ferrer, Iza recounted that when she was confined in the hospital she heard about how the plasma of survivors could possibly help other patients.
“Alam ko na sa puso ko na gusto ko mag-donate (I just knew in my heart that I wanted to donate),” she said.
The multi-awarded actress also shared the patriotic song “Bayan Ko” was playing as she donated blood.
“It gave me so much hope to think that maybe I could help restore someone’s health and that, through our collective efforts, we can restore our country’s well being and make it better,” said Iza Calzado, a Filipino Pride Advocate.
Another COVID-19 survivor, journalist Howie Severino, had said he was also donating his blood for treatment research.
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to Iza Calzado for her gift of blood to COVID-19 patients on Philippine Independence Day.
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