Bound Brook Officer Donates Plasma To Save Lives On His Birthday

BOUND BROOK, NJ — Bound Brook police Officer Frank Waller celebrated his birthday in a unique way, by donating valuable plasma to help save lives amid the new coronavirus pandemic.

Waller recently recovered from the coronavirus and wanted to help others. He heard about patients who were hospitalized in critical condition after testing positive for new coronavirus but who were recovering after receiving convalescent plasma transfusion.

"I heard they needed it, so I figured I had something that most of the population didn't have or didn't know they had," Waller said. "I might as well donate and possibly save some lives."

When Waller called the local hospital to make an appointment, the first available was on Friday — his birthday.

"What better day to do it than on my birthday," Waller said.

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Waller, an officer with the Bound Brook Police Department since 2011, first found out that he had contracted the coronavirus in March.

On March 28, Waller woke up from a nap with a fever. This was very unusual for him and concerned him. He took Tylenol, but the fever did not go down. He called his doctor and was told to immediately quarantine.

He was tested for the new coronavirus the following morning and was confirmed positive on March 30.

"I would say I had it more on the mild side," Waller said of the coronavirus. "I had the high fever, weakness in my body, cough, congestion, loss of taste and smell."

It took about a week for his symptoms to go away but probably about two weeks before he felt back to normal, he said.

During his quarantine, his wife also contracted the virus and had a fever a week longer than Waller. As a result, the Bound Brook Police Department had Waller stay home an extra 10 days as a precaution.

He returned to work April 26 and is already doing his part to help others.

Waller said he is allowed to donate plasma every seven days or eight times in three months. He already has another donation scheduled next week.

"It feels great," Waller said of donating. "I won't know what results come from my donation. But in my mind, I am telling myself I saved a life or two, so it makes me happy."

• Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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