By Saskia Lindsay

Stachelle Shackleford was born with sickle cell disease and received her first blood transfusion at 11 months old. After hundreds of blood transfusions, Stachelle is 31 years old and still battling the genetically inherited disease. She has spent the last few weeks in a hospital in Georgetown, South Carolina, with her mother and young daughter by her side. 

"She just wants to get out of the hospital," said Stachelle's mother, Trisha Scott. "She's been in the hospital for almost two weeks and has gotten three liters of blood so far."  

People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells that are stiff and distorted in shape (like a sickle) and sometimes block small blood vessels. This is what causes sickle cell pain crises and other medical complications.  

About 100,000 people in the United States have sickle cell disease, which occurs in about 1 out of every 365 Black or African American births. There is currently no widely used cure for patients born with sickle cell disease – but there is hope and pain relief that comes with blood transfusions.   

"She got a blood transfusion a few days ago. So, from 11 months old until now, she's still getting them," said Trisha. "Words can't even express my appreciation for blood donors. Thank you is just not enough. Every time I see someone donating blood or I read about someone donating blood, it just makes me feel so good because I know firsthand: you are saving a life."  

People with sickle cell disease may need as many as 100 units of blood each year. Blood donations help alleviate the symptoms of someone living with sickle cell disease or even help save their life.   

"My daughter graduated in the class of 2009, and her classmates have been able to go on and start their families and their careers, travel, and do things that she is not really able to do," explained Trisha. "It's heartbreaking that there are so many things that she won't be able to do."  

Trisha says watching her daughter struggle with the disease has inspired her to donate blood regularly to the American Red Cross.   

"I made my first blood donation two years ago," said Trisha. "I can't thank the blood donors and the Red Cross enough for all they do."  

To learn more about sickle cell disease, click here. To make an appointment to donate lifesaving blood, click here.