This article is directly from the UCHealth website.

What is convalescent plasma?

The management of COVID-19 has mainly focused on infection prevention, case detection and monitoring, and supportive care. There is no specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) treatment recommended at this time because of the absence of evidence, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

However, people who recover (convalesce) from COVID-19 make antibodies against the virus in the plasma component of their blood. And evidence shows that this convalescent plasma can be used as a treatment for patients with COVID-19 without the occurrence of severe adverse events.

UCHealth has already treated patients using this blood and is looking to identify potential donors of convalescent COVID-19 plasma to be able to treat more COVID-positive patients across the state.

Do I qualify?

COVID-19 convalescent plasma may only be collected from COVID-19 recovered individuals if they are eligible to donate blood.

You must have:

• Prior diagnosis of COVID-19 documented by a laboratory test.
• Complete resolution of symptoms at least 14 days before the donation.
• Meet all requirements for blood donation.
• More details are outlined in the FDA guidelines.

What if I had symptoms of COVID-19, but never got a test?

If you suffered from a respiratory illness over the last eight weeks and believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, you may be eligible to donate plasma in the near future. Please fill out one of the forms below, depending on where you live. Then, if the opportunity arises for you to donate plasma, coordinators will follow up with you soon. Thank you.

What do I do next?

• In Northern Colorado: Contact Kaitlin Zobel: 970.495.8987, or fill out this form and someone will contact you. Details on their process and scheduling can be found here.
• Outside Northern Colorado: Contact the UCHealth convalescent plasma hotline: 720.848.8888, or fill out this form and someone will contact you.

Where can I find more information?

• The Colorado COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project Consortium
• UCHealth Today’s COVID-19 page.
  • UCHealth Today article: Donating plasma for COVID patients new push in fight against deadly virus
  • UCHealth Today article: ‘Huge’ milestone: Colorado’s first convalescent plasma recipient leaves ICU after 34 days on a ventilator

NUTRITION:

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Aim for 9-13 servings per day of a variety of types for a wide array of phytonutrients to enhance the gut microbiome.
• Consume dietary fiber, a minimum of 28-35 grams daily, preferably from whole foods.
• Eat fermented vegetables or other probiotic-containing foods to maintain epithelial health and gut barrier function.
• Reduce or avoid immune offenders such as added sugars and salt, high-glycemic foods (including processed carbohydrates), and excessive saturated fat.

STRESS REDUCTION/MANAGEMENT:

• Monitoring stress levels through biofeedback markers such as heart rate variability (HRV) may assist in knowing when to implement stress management strategies such as breath work and meditation.
• Practicing stress-modifying techniques on a regular basis can result in greater resilience when confronted with stressors.

SLEEP:

• Good quality, sufficient quantity (seven to eight hours) and adequate deep phasic bouts of sleep is of upmost importance as part of immune maintenance, as well as during times of recovery from illness.
• It is advised to have good sleep hygiene and maintain consistent sleep hours by turning off screens, ensuring the room is cool, quiet, and dark, and setting reminders to go to bed on time.

EXERCISE:

• A personalized exercise program can be designed even during homestay by utilizing features in one’s home environment. This includes fitness apps, the internet (YouTube is a huge resource!), and take the opportunity to experience the calming, immune-supportive effects of being in nature (while social distancing of course).

SOCIAL FACTORS/CONNECTION:

• Encourage reduced exposure to interactions perceived as hostile and non-supportive and, at the same time, emphasize and encourage spending time with people who are positive or affirming.
• For those people who may be lonely or isolated, as well as those who may be at increased risk of immune compromise, recommend regular social connection as a routine. Ideas might include participating virtually in local community events or in a religious or spiritual group. 

To my patients, family, friends, and local community,

In these trying times, may humanity reevaluate our priorities and remember that resilience can be found in learning from each other and reconnecting with ourselves and Nature.

At The Healing Gardens we have always felt called to share healing solutions, focused inspiration, strategies, and education to transform our world towards an actively healing future.

And now…more than ever…it is my goal to provide resources which support a positive shift into the more balanced paradigm that is awaiting this change.

The world is aching and ready for us to evolve in the direction of:

• Compassionate communities
• Local, resilient food systems
• Holistic, nutritionally-focused healing modalities
• Respecting our resources and reducing waste
• Mental wellness through stress reduction like meditation
• Gratitude for human connection, friendships, family, and relationships

It is more than OK to feel a bit nervous and uncertain in these times, but trust that your Healing Gardens team is still here and is able to help and serve.

But also please know that you can balance taking this crisis seriously, while also allowing yourself the space to envision our new potential future, on the other side of this pandemic.

Sharing your Healing Stories
At this moment in history, when so many may be out of work and spending more time at home than usual, we have decided to  invite you all to write your healing stories that have occurred. Remember that where you focus your thoughts matter. So let’s focus on your resilience that you have already demonstrated. Remembering it, and sharing it, is what will help us recall that we are strong, healthy, and so very resilient!

I, for 25 years have witnessed your healing journeys. Frankly for years I’ve told my staff it’s time to release these stories. I feel selfish holding all these stories. They are amazing, and testimony to true healing and your strength. Personally I know they need to be released to the world! So in this introspective and locked in time, consider writing and sharing. I do have a goal to write a book or create an avenue for sharing all of these stories one day. Maybe now is the time to start to gather your perspective and we can do it together!

If you are interested in sharing your Healing Story, please email Caitlin at info@thehealinggardens.org with the subject “Healing Story”.

Other healthy and uplifting recommendations:

1. Get outside daily, the outside world is not dangerous. It’s people to people contact that we want to limit, so just allow the recommended social distances (6 feet).
2. Start journaling or do art work. Im working on Stop-Look-Go: A Grateful Practice Workbook and Gratitude Journal.
3. Practice your breath work, 4-7-8 breathing. 
4. Learn about Wim Hof. Fascinating data and breath techniques that is excellent for your immune status. 
5. Practice your culinary skills! Share recipes, stories, and laughter.
6. Find some great books you’ve always wanted to read. I love Mark Nepo’s “The book of Awakening” and Robin Wall Kimmerer’s “Braiding Sweetgrass”.
7. Learn a language… I vote Italian ;-). It’s beautiful.
8. Learn something every day about the natural world or yourself. Stay curious!
9. Watch some educational Ted talks.
10. Limit the news, one hour a day is plenty. Some days please limit and press pause to the news.
11. Know that we are here for you! We can do telemedicine appointments.
12. Our pharmacy is open, we can take orders for scheduled pickups or mail anywhere within the US. We are strictly following all of the CDC protocols and are allowing no personal contact with customers.
13. Most importantly, if you are not currently sick or have been around anyone who has and want our best MEGA MYERS FORMULA (an antiviral formula) with double C and zinc we are making these available. Normally these would cost $150.00, but we are offering these to current patients for $105.00.

We love you and wish for health and happiness for you all.  I am so grateful for our strong and amazing community we have built together.

We trust we have been keeping you strong for years and know we will be strong and healthy through all of this.

I have gratitude for you all!

To optimal health,

Dr. Jackie Fields and your HG team