by David Guth

A blood donor determined to help patients with sickle cell disease highlighted efforts to ensure a diverse blood supply at a recent meeting of the board of directors of the Greater Kansas Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Tisharria Harris, a member of the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ in Southeast Topeka, told the board about a recent blood drive the church hosted in partnership with the Red Cross and Topeka Black Nurses Association that will aid in the treatment of sickle cell. The Red Cross and community partners are constantly engaged in an effort to maintain a diverse blood supply to ensure that the right blood product is available when needed.

About 100,000 people in the U.S. are living with sickle cell disease, the nation’s most common genetic blood disease. It disproportionately affects people who are Black; sickle cell disease affects 1 out of every 365 Black or African American births.

Harris worked hard to improve her own health so she could donate at the blood drive. She said the church’s sickle cell drive collected a regional record 19 pints. She added that plans are underway for another sickle cell blood drive.

“I don’t think people in my culture really understand the severity of needing to be able to give blood to save someone,” Harris told the board members. “I was super excited for the opportunity (to address this need), and I will be super excited when we get to do it again.

“I will definitely be the first one on the donor list, just like I was the last time,” Harris added.

The Red Cross encourages eligible donors of all races and ethnicities to give blood or platelets to increase the diversity of the blood supply. Blood given to patients with rare blood types must be matched very closely to reduce the risk of developing complications from transfusion therapy. A single sickle cell patient can may need as many as 100 units of blood each year throughout their life.

“I want to thank you for sharing your powerful story and for your dedication to this critical cause,” Red Cross Chapter Board Chairman Brandon Aldridge said. “Your courage in overcoming fear to donate blood is truly inspiring, and your advocacy is making a real difference in the fight against sickle cell disease.

“We are grateful for your passion and for your reminding us that life-saving impact of the blood donation,” he added.

Harris hopes that the blood drives save lives not only because of the units collected, but also because they help spread information about what sickle cell disease is and how the Black community can help.

“Knowledge is power,” Harris told Topeka TV station WIBW. “To know that there is a need and if you are able to give every blood drive that you’re able to be at go give because we are low in numbers to help people with sickle cell, which we’re the only descendant race that carries that.”

The American Red Cross of Greater Kansas serves over 1 million residents in 78 counties, from the Colorado border to Missouri and from the Oklahoma border to Nebraska.

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.