Serbian: I’m Sorry, My Blood Could Have Helped

The doctor told me she was sorry and she understood my intentions, but that it would be better not to take my blood now, Stanisa Beljin said

ZAGREB, CROATIA – A Serbian tourist vacationing in Croatia who tried to give blood at the transfusion ward of the Sibenik hospital was rejected with an explanation that the law does not allow foreigners to donate blood. The Serbian citizen’s name is Staljisa Beljin and he decided to tell his side ot the story exclusively for Javno.

He is vacationing with his wife, a Croat from Serbia’s province of Vojvodina, with family friends who are Croats and were in 1992 forced to leave Vojvodina. They swapped houses with a Serb in Sibenik. We visited them on Friday night, just before 9pm, as they were returning from the beach. Stanisa was in a good mood, but somewhat surprised with the media attention. After offering us some home-made cake, he began telling his story:

- When I heard from the media that there was an insufficient amount of blood in Dalmatian hospitals, that is, that they were looking for donors, I felt the need to give blood. I have been giving blood for a long number of years, I gave blood 44 times so far, so I went to the Transfusion Institute. But despite all the kindness and the good will of everybody who works there, there was no way for me to do so.

What was it like there? Did they know from the start who you were? 

- I told them straight away. The nurse who admitted me first even carried out tests, I filled out the control form with information that is anonymous and confidentiality is guaranteed, so everything was regular. Then she went to see the doctor who, when she heard I was from Serbia, said that there was no way for a foreigner to give blood – Because you are a Serb, and don’t get me wrong, there is no way for you to give blood here because there is a possibility that if somebody finds out that they got the blood of a foreign citizen, like a Serbian citizen in this case, they will not feel comfortable with it and can complain and make problems. I understand your good and humane intentions, it is good and very commendable, but it seems to me that it would not be a good idea if we did this now – the doctor told me. I am aware of the fact that I am a regular blood donor, that I am healthy and that I meet all the criteria.

How did you feel that that point?

- Well, okay, I can’t say I was uncomfortable. I understood them, I understood their reasons. I only regret that I couldn’t help somebody, if it would have helped somebody, which I am sure it would have.

So, do you think the law should be changed? 

- Definitely. Not just here, everywhere. If there are good and humane people who can help anywhere, why should they be hindered from doing so? I had the best intentions. I am staying here with my friends who welcomed me and did a lot for us here and in a way I wanted to give something back, not just my friends, but other people, everybody.

I heard that you went to the hospital on foot. Your will was evidently very strong considering that you had to walk several kilometres in the scorching heat to get there. 

- Yes, I did, but unfortunately, it was all in vain. It just couldn’t be done. But I honestly don’t hold a grudge against anybody, I was not upset, on the contrary, I understood their laws. Perhaps such a law or provision exists in Serbia or some other country, I don’t know, but this is not right and it is not normal. Because it is natural for people to help one another, especially in situations like these.

I heard from your friends that during the war, in which you did not want to take part as a soldier, helped Croats during those most difficult years. 

- I helped as much as I could. I was not in the position to help in some special cases, but a good word, a good advice sometimes go a long way.

How was it back then in the ethnically mixed villages of Vojvodina? 

- That was a log time ago, it is best forgotten. There are extremes everywhere, even today. But one needs to act humanely.

Allegedly you are also involved politically. 

 - I am not really involved now, but I am a member of the Democratic Party, Djindjid’s party, and because of that man (assassinated Serbian prime minister Zoran Djindjic) and only because of that man I became a member of that party and entered politics. I believe that currently this party is the most positive party that will bring good not only to the Serbian people, but its environment as well. Of course, if all parties would have such or at least a similar platform, there would be much, much less problems. And all those problems, both former and current, would be overcome much more easily.

What is the situation there, how much is life in Vojvodina different from the life in the south? 

- There are certainly differences, primarily in culture, tradition, although a lot has changed in the past 15 years. But we who have lived there a long time, us old people from Vojvodina, are trying to maintain that level of culture, inter-people relations and behaviour in general. Today it is much easier than before because there were a lot of problems from the start of the 1990’s, of course because of extremist parties and the general politics that was carried out in Serbia then. Luckily, that time has passed and is behind us and, if only the late prime minister and president of my country was alive, it would be easier and better for all of us.

While you were at the hospital, did you at any point feel any negativity or discomfort because you are a Serb? 

- No. Everybody was very kind and fair. The nurse who admitted me and took my blood for testing, where I completed the questionnaire, it was all very fair, as was the doctor who acted professionally, but also kindly. She very concretely explained to me that the fact that she could not take my blood was stronger than her wish and, finally stronger than mine to give my blood to Croatians.

Do you think there are people who would mind getting Serbian blood? 

- For me that kind of thinking is unfamiliar, I cannot even imagine something like that. I don’t know. I do not believe there are such people. I simply do not have feelings like that within me, I never did, not even in the worst moments. I have friends among all peoples of the former Yugoslav republics, as well as elsewhere, I travelled abroad and I never encountered any inhumane situation. On the contrary, I only met with understanding.

If the law in Croatia changes when you come here for your holiday next year, will you donate blood? 

- Of course! If the schedule falls in place as it did now, exactly three months from the last time I gave blood, I don’t see why not. And not only in Croatia, anywhere.

These days you are the star of the media in Croatia and Serbia. Would you like tomake a statement? 

- Yes, it is important for me to stress that I do not want cause trouble in any way to anybody, from the friends who accepted me in their home to the wonderful staff at the hospital. I wish all the best to that nurse and doctor who, I reiterate, were very fair, kind and professional. I felt that it was not easy for them to tell me that they have to reject me, but they had to. I felt great discomfort in them, so I am not pleased that the situation is the way it is. They had the best intentions, but the fact that the process did not allow this was probably stronger than their wish and my wish to give blood. I started donating blood as a high school student back in 1973. Since then I gave blood 44 times and my wish is to fill the quota of up to 60 times before the end of my life. I hope that at least one of those transfusions will happen in Croatia.

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