COVID-19 survivors, researchers encourage others to donate plasma

Researchers are looking for plasma donations from those how have recovered from the coronavirus in order to see if it can help heal sick patients.
Survivor Corps founder Diana Berrent donated plasma in Manhattan last week and is donating again today.
"It was truly one of the most wonderful moments in my life, including marriage and child birth. That one donation, you can save three to four lives - my doctor said my plasma is liquid gold. I felt like a super hero," said Berrent.
Berrent says she plans to donate every seven days. The process takes about a half-hour.
Julia Motley of Merrick is another survivor, who contracted COVID-19 in mid-March. Now that she's recovered, she has volunteered to donate her plasma to Stony Brook University Hospital.
Doctors at Stony Brook are conducting one of the numerous clinical trials looking into whether plasma from people who have recovered from the coronavirus can help those who are still sick.
Dr. Elliott Bennett-Guerrero, who is heading up the trial, says he needs 150 approved plasma donors. The trial involves 500 COVID-19 patients currently at Stony Brook University Hospital -- 500 will be given convalescent plasma, and 100 will get regular plasma.
Catholic Health Services is taking part in a separate study on convalescent plasma that is being led by the Mayo Clinic. Researchers are getting that plasma from people who donate at the New York Blood Center.
"It just makes you feel good to be able to do something," says Motley. "And so grateful after what my husband and I both went through, to give back in some way."
While both studies are focusing on the effectiveness from convalescent plasma, there is still an overall need for blood donations in the area.
See the full interview with Berrent below: