VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - When Virginia Beach resident Tim Martin contracted COVID-19 in March, he was sick for more than two weeks.
"I was literally in bed shivering for four and a half, five days and miserable for the rest of the two weeks, that's for sure," Martin told News 3.
That experience has spurred him to take action by donating his plasma through the Red Cross.
It's believed the plasma of people who've recovered from COVID-19 could help other patients currently battling the virus.
Martin says it's a good feeling knowing he can help.
"A couple weeks after [donating] I got a letter from the Red Cross telling me where my donation went. Couldn't tell me, obviously, who it went to, but it went to a hospital right here in Hampton Roads and was used to help COVID patients up in Hampton, and that's a wonderful feeling," said Martin.
The Red Cross is looking for more people like Martin to donate.
“We have seen just in the last month a doubling of the need for those that have been impacted by coronavirus to be donors in order to provide that life-saving support," said Michelle Ellis Young, Executive Director for the Coastal Virginia chapter of the American Red Cross.
Martin says if someone is nervous about the process, he encourages them to think about the people it could help.
"This is an opportunity to be a strong member of the community, and it really is what community is all about," said Martin.
To see if you qualify and learn more about the process, click here.
