From rugby player to plasma donation advocate : Aotearoa agent ’ s story
BY CASSANDRA GLOVER
After donating a kidney to his father in 2021 , Ray White Bayfair salesperson Vyron Mete ’ s life changed forever when he was diagnosed with a rare blood disease . Vyron is now a fierce advocate for plasma donation in his local community .
Vyron was playing rugby and living in Sydney when the youngest of six children decided to undergo testing to see if he could donate a kidney to his ill father who had been on dialysis three times a week .
Vyron said his experience led him to learn a lot about plasma and the role it plays in our health .
“ I always donated blood , and when I played rugby we donated as a team , but I didn ' t know a lot about plasma ," he said .
“ I learnt a lot about the life saving qualities of plasma and so I am trying to share my story and raise awareness . I want others to understand that plasma can help people of all different ages and stages suffering many different health issues .
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I learnt a lot about the life saving qualities of plasma and so I am trying to share my story and raise awareness .
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When he found out he was a match , Vyron moved back to New Zealand and ran an ultra marathon , raising $ 20,000 for kidney health . Two weeks later he went under the knife and successfully donated a kidney to his dad . All seemed to be going well until Vyron fell ill , he was soon after diagnosed with a rare blood disease .
“ The platelets in my blood dropped to almost zero and my red blood cells were splitting which negatively impacted my one kidney function . When I got to the hospital I was put on plasma transfusions ," he said .
“ The plasma transfusions worked really well . The recovery has been challenging but I ’ ve been putting in a lot of effort to look after myself .”
“ One donation could save three lives and I am living proof of that . 150 people saved my life last year , so now I am trying to do my part .”
Vyron now works with the NZ Blood Service raising awareness about plasma donation , and has even featured on The Project . “ My goal is to share my story , it ’ s all about helping people and connecting with people ,” Vyron said .
“ There ’ s a massive shortage of blood donation in Aotearoa . If I can share my story and encourage people to donate for the first time , then I am helping to give back .
“ I ’ m so grateful for the people who take the time out of their day to do it . You are legends and you ’ re saving peoples lives .”
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