By Michael Bowman, American Red Cross

Jiraiya Johnson loves sports. Like many seven-year-old girls, Jiraiya wants to play soccer, basketball, and gymnastics.  But not many girls her age get to play baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals!

On June 1^st, Jiraiya will step onto the pitcher’s mound at Busch Stadium and throw out the first pitch in front of a home crowd before the Cardinals take on the Texas Rangers.  Throwing the first pitch at the Cardinals game is special for Jiraiya and her family.  Jiraiya was born with Sickle Cell disease, a condition with devastating effects on a person’s ability to lead a full, active life.

After her birth in 2019, tests revealed Jiraiya had Sickle Cell Anemia SS, the most common and typically most severe form of Sickle Cell disease. Individuals with this disease often experience symptoms like fatigue, weakness, frequent infections, and sensitivity to heat and cold, which trigger severe pain. In many cases, children with Sickle Cell Anemia SS have extended hospital stays. Despite experiencing some of these symptoms, Jiraiya leads a very active life.

“She does like to participate in sports,” said Jiraiya’s mother, Kala. “We're looking to put her in gymnastics. She also says she wants to play basketball. She wants to play soccer. She loves to swim. She goes to the trampoline. Jiraiya is your everyday child. But with a health concern.”

Jiraiya’s active lifestyle does come with risk, forcing her and her family to take special precautions. “Typical kids like to get in and out of the swimming pool,” said Kala. You have to chase Jiraiya around the pool to try to warm her back up because being too cold from jumping in and out of the water can cause her to have a pain crisis. So, you want to warm her back up to a level body temperature.”

Doctors are amazed by Jiraiya’s active lifestyle. The symptoms and complications associated with her form of Sickle Cell can have devastating effects on those with the disease. “Most people don't make it past the age of 30,” said Kala. “The doctors are highly shocked by Jiraiya’s performance and everything. And I hope my baby does get to make it past the age of 30. I hope she actually gets to experience life to the fullest.”

Kala and Jiraiya’s father Tre-veon King, works tirelessly to care for their daughter. Both Kala and Tre-veon have combined their passion for motorcycles with a desire to honor Jiraiya and help others with Sickle Cell disease by organizing blood drives. Kala and Tre-veon belong to separate motorcycle clubs. When club members found out about Jiraiya’s condition, they decided to organize a blood drive. “We brought our motorcycles to the blood drive because Jiraiya loves bikes,” said Kala. Even the St. Louis Fire Department got involved. Her “papa” Joseph K. Johnson, a fire fighter with the St. Louis City Fire Department brings a fire truck to the drive for all the kids to enjoy.

“We make sure it's fun. We have hot dogs for the donors, and they get to talk to Jiraiya and ask how she's doing, and they ask us how we're doing,” said Kala.

While friends and community cheer on Jiraiya during her battle with Sickle Cell disease, most of her support comes from her family.  Jiraiya’s parents spend as much time as possible with their daughter. Grandparents Stacie Stimage and Joseph K. Johnson are quick to help Kala and Tre-veon and care for Jiraiya. “Jiraiya has the ability to take a bad situation and make it so much better with just her smile,” said Joseph. “We keep her active and keep her going and give her lots and lots of love. She's very spoiled by me,” shared grandmother Stacie.

When Jiraiya is not being spoiled by her grandparents, she is working on her pitching form with her father. “I'm excited,” said Tre-veon. “I'm so excited. We need to practice. It's been a little bit, but we're going to practice more.”

Tre-veon’s excitement about throwing out the first pitch at the Cardinals game is shared by Jiraiya’s entire family. “I am an over-the-top mama,” said Kala. “I'm looking at getting shirts made and everything because this is a big day for not only my baby, but our family. Six of us would be able to go on the field with her. So that'd be a great experience for me, her dad, and her grandparents to be able to do so.”

Jiraiya Johnson has overcome so much hardship and pain while battling Sickle Cell disease. Throwing out the first pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals will be more than just a fun moment at a baseball game. It is an expression of Jiraiya’s passion for living and demonstrates how anything is possible with the love and support from family, friends, and the community. Despite her pain, Jiraiya is not going to let Sickle Cell stand in the way of enjoying every moment of life.

“Jiraiya is full of life, loves to move around, loves to stay active,” said Kala. “I don't minimize her to do anything because at the end of the day, she's a kid. You still want to let her experience life.”

Feel inspired to donate? Make your appointment today to give blood at the upcoming Cardinals Blood Drive, June 8-12.