Renal nurse with special Ro subtype encourages others to donate blood

Amino Ali

A renal nurse at Oxford University Hospitals has been caring for patients while also making a life-saving impact through blood donation.

After her successful first donation, Amino Ali discovered that she has the much-needed Ro subtype, most common in people of Black heritage and in high demand for the treatment of patients with sickle cell.

She said: "I didn't realise how valuable my blood was until I saw the importance placed on my blood type by staff at the donor centre. When I found out I have a valuable blood type, I felt special and motivated to donate more. It's fulfilling to know that every donation I make could save up to three lives."

Amino's commitment to donating blood extends beyond her own contribution. She has begun actively encouraging her family and friends, especially those from minority ethnic backgrounds, to donate.

She said: "There are many people of Black heritage in need of regular blood transfusions for conditions like sickle cell, and yet there are not enough people from these backgrounds donating, so breaking the misconceptions and donating regularly is vital for saving more lives."

Amino's inspiring journey into blood donation began last November, driven by a desire to positively contribute to her community. Despite some initial reservations, Amino's determination quickly led her to discover the ease of donating at the local Oxford Donor Centre, situated on the John Radcliffe Hospital site.

The 29-year-old said: "I've always wanted to donate, but I never knew how. It wasn't until I discovered how close the donation centre was to where I was working that I took the first step. It only took about 15 minutes to actually donate the blood, and the process was so quick and easy – so different to what I’d expected."

Amino's inspiration to donate blood stems from her first-hand experience as a nurse, witnessing the transformative impact of blood transfusions on patients.

She said: "As a renal nurse, I've seen how vital blood transfusions are for patients with kidney issues. It's not just about improving their health; it's about restoring their energy and quality of life."

Despite a busy work schedule, Amino is committed to making time to donate, aiming for regular donations.

She said: "I am committed to fitting donations around my work, particularly looking for appointments on my days off. It's not as time-consuming as I thought, and my patients are a constant reminder of how every donation makes a difference."

Looking ahead, Amino is eager to continue donating and to keep promoting blood as well as plasma donation, which can be donated at a dedicated donor centre in Reading, one of only three dedicated plasma donor centres in the country.

As her story inspires others, Amino's message is clear: donating blood is a simple yet powerful act that can save lives.

Register as a blood or plasma donor and book an appointment to donate via the GiveBloodNHS app or via the NHS Blood and Transplant website.