It’s been more than a month since New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton was cleared of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, and he’s continuing to use that experience and his unique platform to inform and educate others. On Monday, Payton donated plasma at a local hospital to help the fight against the coronavirus.
“Until there’s a vaccine for it, this allows us to do something we think can help,” Payton said during an appearance on FOX 8 New Orleans. “And basically if you’re someone who’s had COVID-19, or if you know you’ve had COVID-19, they’ll ask questions relative to how long you’ve been symptom-free.
“But the idea being that it’s your blood being taken, they’re gonna grab some plasma from it so you’re not gonna lose any blood, that takes about 45 minutes. Hopefully that plasma will help someone who’s been affected in a much more grave way.”
This comes just days after Payton made a $100,000 donation to Second Harvest of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, a food bank that services thousands of locals. That gesture was part of a telethon in which more than $380,000 was raised to benefit the nonprofit.
It’s terrific to see Payton using his unfortunate circumstances for good, donating his own time, energy, and resources to extend a helping hand to his community. As the struggle against the coronavirus and its effects on the economy linger on, it’ll take more actions like Payton’s to overcome this tough challenge.
