My children can never be donors, what do I tell them?

[Beaaware]

My children are 19, 22, 24, they were all born during the BSE crisis, the other day one of them asked me 'Mum I want to donate my blood when I travel overseas' , I know that this is not possible because all three of my children are banned from doing this in most other countries around the world.
AIBU not tell them exactly why this is, or should I let them find out for themselves, how do you tell your kids that they have potentially been exposed to deadly rogue prions?

I'm not too bothered if the ban is lifted or not

Sorry my phone posted too soon! I am 29 and had a blood transfusion at birth, I went to give blood 10 years ago and they told me I couldn't as the screening service in the 80's wasn't up to scratch. I walked out disappointed I couldn't return the favour and haven't thought about it since. I think you are turning this into a bit of a drama tbh

If your dc do want to do something medically useful in Australia, they can still do medical/ drug trials. I know this because friends of mine got paid to do it when we were backpacking.

So they can save the human race after all

I live abroad and was astonished when I went to give blood and was told that because I had lived in the UK during the 80s that they didn't want my blood. I wasn't traumatised though and don't think your DC will be either. Just be honest about it.

Well I'm 22 and to be honest, I'd rather just be told (truth be told this thread is the first I've heard of it). It's not that big of a deal, especially when there are so many restrictions to giving blood already.

Ah, OP. I see you are concerned on many levels about many topics.

You remind me of my aunt. Just live your life and stop stressing about things, it is bad for your health

sorry don't get the drama. if what you say is true, tell them,
they are grown ups.
I would tell my son who is 20 if I knew what you say is true(don't as I havn't checked) but tbh there are lots of things that stop you BD. ds can't at the moment as he had a tatt done.
soon he will have a wisdom tooth out, won't be able to after that for a while.
tis life.

If I've understood you correctly, most of the people who live in the UK are also banned from donating blood in other countries. Why should your children be more upset than everyone else?

I can't donate blood anywhere any more after a blood transfusion. It's sad but not something that is difficult to understand.

Are you worrying about having to explain they may have been exposed to BSE infected meat in the late 80s and early 90s OP?

I think it is very strange that they are not aware OP.

Since you actively campaign on this issue, I would be very surprised that your adult children where not aware of your hobby horse.

I remember your last thread on this subject. Or maybe not your last one - just one of them.

It's a horrible thing to have to tell them but I will?

I reckon you need to get some perspective. I'm glad you haven't had anything worse to tell them tbh, you should be too

Also bad posting form. Rhubarb rhubarb.

Oh - I see that others have made the same point far better than I.

I've never heard someone specifically say they want to donate their blood when they travel overseas. Why are your children focused on transporting their blood to another country to donate it?

For what it's worth I've been banned from donating my blood in every country I've lived in because of living in other countries (the UK don't want my blood right now because of several other countries I've lived in, mainly to do with HIV I think). I wish it were different, but I can't say I'm devastated by the restrictions. There are plenty of ways to lead a useful life.

Perhaps next time you should use the namechange facility.

Surely they will be asked the questions if they go to donate.

Oh. Sorry. X-posts due to dealing with tantrums while typing!

If I were the OP I'd be extremely worried that my DCs were oblivious to a subject that I'd been banging on about for years. I'd suspect severe famial breakdown or perhaps hearing loss

I worked in Central/South America "in rural subsistence farming communities in these countries for a continuous period of four weeks or more." As a result, I am not allowed to give blood and my children's cord blood would be rejected because of the risk I carry Chagas' disease.

YET this has not traumatised me. I have not lost any sleep over it at all. I was told the last time I went to give blood and didn't need any breaking of bad news!

I have never imagined such handwringing. At least two of your children are adults. This is hardly the worst news in the world and hardly likely to traumatise them UNLESS you start telling them they might have be harbouring CJD in that overly dramatic fashion. I imagine that most of us in the UK have been exposed, yet a tiny, tiny, tiny (far, far fewer than was predicted) number have developed nvCJD.

They'll get over it

Oh god Beaaware Find. Something. Else. To. Do.

Get a sodding hobby.

Search op's previous posts before responding, she has a fixation, it is not healthy.

If they are old enough to travel over seas then they are old enough to have a conversation about BSE

What a wierd thread?!

Why woudo it put the fear of God into them? Loads of people were born at the same time as them.

And if they are that keen to donate, why do they have to do it abroad? That in itself is wierd, why wouldn't they just do it while they are still here?

Id actually be more worried if they had never heard of vCJD at their ages. I just asked my 11 year old. He knows what it i