During Sickle Cell Awareness Month, the American Red Cross is hoping you’ll consider helping meet the needs of those with sickle cell disease, the most common inherited blood disorder in the country.
Taylor Williams, a 15-year-old sickle cell warrior, attended a recent sickle cell blood drive in Trenton to help raise awareness and thank those donating blood. As one of the more than 100,000 Americans living with sickle cell disease, she is fully aware how important blood donation is.
“Throughout my journey, I’ve faced different challenges,” said Taylor. “I play a lot of sports, but if it’s rainy and cold outside, I can’t play soccer and if the pool is too cold, I can’t swim because it might trigger a crisis, which is very painful.”
Sickle cell disease causes red blood cells to be hard and crescent-shaped instead of soft and round. As a result, blood has difficulty flowing smoothly and carrying oxygen to the rest of the body, which may lead to severe pain, tissue and organ damage, acute anemia and even strokes. A patient with sickle cell disease can require multiple blood transfusions throughout their lifetime – as much as 100 units of blood per patient each year – to treat complications from the disease.
But here's what makes the difference: Blood donors who are Black are almost three times more likely to be a match for patients with sickle cell. Closely matched blood prevents immune responses and transfusion complications.
Taylor had the opportunity to personally thank many of the donors who attended the blood drive at the Capital Area YMCA, hosted by Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson in partnership with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
“The blood being donated here today is very helpful to people with sickle cell – people like me and my friends and family who have it too,” Taylor said. “I’m very appreciative of the donors and I know many others are too.”
About every two and a half minutes, someone with sickle cell disease arrives at a U.S. emergency room—and nearly two out of three times, they're in severe pain. In those critical moments, the availability of lifesaving blood can mean the difference between uncertainty and assurance when transfusion treatment is needed.
Be Inspired to Give
Launched in 2021, the Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative has inspired more than 140,000 first-time African American blood donors to roll up a sleeve, helping to strengthen and diversify our blood donor base.
Attend one of these upcoming sickle cell blood drives, or any blood drive, to help sickle cell warriors like Taylor:
Find out more and schedule a blood donation appointment today by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/OurBlood, using the Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
Those who present to give blood Aug. 29-Sept. 21 get an exclusive Red Cross x PEANUTS mystery bag with 1 of 4 special tee designs, while supplies last. Those who present to give Sept. 22-Oct. 19 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, and those who present to give Oct. 20-Nov. 16 will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice!
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today.
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