MIAMI VALLEY — The area’s first coronavirus survivor donated plasma at the Community Blood Center Monday in an effort to aid an emergency need, according to a release from the blood center.
Menachem Mendel Mangel, a 21-year-old Brooklyn man who now lives with his family in Oakwood, was visiting for a Passover March 16 and tested positive for the virus March 18.
Mangel is the son of Rabbi Nochum Mangel of the Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Dayton synagogue.
Rabbi Mangel learned about plasma donations from a member of the synagogue who is a physician.
Once Menachem tested negative for the virus, he decided to do what he could to help.
>> Coronavirus: The benefits of donating blood, plasma after virus recovery
“My dad told me about donating (convalescent) plasma and I said I’d do it," he said.
"It wasn’t too much of a debate, I’ve donated before and anything I can do to help.”
The plasma can be transfused to people with life-threatening coronavirus infection and the antibodies present in convalescent plasma are proteins that may help critically ill patients fight the infection, according to the release from the Community Blood Center.
Menachem said he plans to return to New York when it is safe, but until then he continues to work remotely from his family’s home in Oakwood while staying in touch with friends.
“Everyone I know who has tested positive is planning to try to donate,” he said.
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