A recovered coronavirus patient helped the Community Blood Center reach a new milestone in the fight against the virus.
“Look, I'm not a hero. The medical professionals, they're the heroes. I had COVID-19, I survived it, therefore I have an obligation to help people out," said Greg Bartel of Malone.
Bartel was diagnosed with COVID-19 and has since fully recovered.
Earlier this week, Bartel became the Community Blood Center's first donor of convalescent plasma. Now, his plasma can be directly transfused to a patient to help them fight the virus.
"People here in here in Wisconsin think we don't have as many cases, and people think it's not that serious, but it's pretty serious,” said Bartel. “When I tell people I had COVID-19, they back up 20 feet first, and then they're like wow, you've had it? How was it? The more the public understands that this is real, the better."
The Community Blood Center hopes Bartel's donation is the first of many. They are calling on those who have been diagnosed and recovered to consider making a donation.
