By Saida Pagan/American Red Cross

For Dorian Archie, every campaign to bring attention to the need for blood donations is vitally important, but perhaps there is none as personal to him as the Sickle Cell Awareness Month campaign in September – that’s because Archie, the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region Biomedical Emerging Market Manager was born with sickle cell disease. The blood disorder effects an estimated 100,000 Americans, characterized by abnormal hemoglobin, often causing severe pain and requiring some patients to undergo frequent, life-saving blood transfusions.   

“The discomfort—it’s impossible to put into words,” said Archie whose condition was diagnosed at birth.

“I spent my first birthday in the hospital,” Archie continued. “My parents told me it was one of the hardest times in their lives to find out that their newborn baby had this disease,” he recalled. 

Archie who is now 37, began receiving blood transfusions at a young age. “There was not a day that went by that I did not have to deal with sickle cell in some form or fashion,” he explained.  “Not being able to do all the sports that other children were doing…not being able to run as far without getting fatigued.”

But Archie says he resolved himself not to let sickle cell disease define his life even though it tried to limit him in certain ways. He went on to graduate from Howard University with a degree in Communication and Culture and has become a passionate advocate for “Sickle Cell Warriors” as they are called. And not long ago Archie proudly received his first transfusion with the Red Cross, which began its Sickle Cell Initiative in 2021 to screen for the sickle cell trait and increase blood donations.

The disease, which can cause anemia, strokes, organ failure and other life-threatening conditions, is most prevalent among people whose ancestors lived in parts of the world where malaria was common. In addition to those of African ancestry, individuals of  Latin American, Mediterranean, Saudi Arabian and Indian descent, as well as others, can also have sickle cell disease.

Despite its global presence, Archie says there is not only a lack of knowledge about the disease, but also often a stigma attached to it. He’s hoping that the Red Cross Sickle Cell Awareness campaign will bring about change.

Because some sickle cell patients may need as many as 100 units of blood each year, Archie says there is a particularly urgent need to increase the number of African American donors. Research has shown that blood from these donors has a higher-than-average chance of being negative for certain antigens, thus making it a better match for sickle cell patients.  On the day we spoke with the Archie, he was helping to lead a weekend blood drive with members of a local chapter of a Black fraternity, which regularly partners with the Red Cross. 

Archie says he is looking forward to the day when sickle cell will no longer impact the African American community in the way that it currently does, and he strongly believes blood drives such as the ones sponsored by the Red Cross can have a tremendous impact. He urges anyone seeking to make a difference to consider donating.

“We need you,” Archie said. “Your donation could possibly save lives.”

Every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. For sickle cell patients like Archie, the need is constant. Be the match they’re waiting for — schedule your blood donation now at redcross.org/give-blood.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.