Story told by Acacia Cameron RN, Red Cross Volunteer 

When Aja Johnson, a career social worker, passed out at work two years ago, she had no idea how urgently she would need a blood transfusion.  

“They told me my blood was low. I needed a transfusion right away,” she said. “Lupus had been quietly attacking my red blood cells, and I didn’t even know.” 

Aja was diagnosed in 2013 after a long hospitalization for a 105-degree fever with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common and often most severe form of lupus. It’s a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, including joints, organs, and even blood cells.  

The condition can be unpredictable. On a good day, Aja is helping others recover after disasters as an American Red Cross disaster case manager volunteer. On a bad day, she might experience joint pain, fatigue, or dangerously low blood counts.  

“Lupus is kind of like a kid on a playground,” she explains. “It sees everything and wants to play on everything… your heart, your liver, your joints, even your red blood cells. Sometimes it eats your cartilage. Other times, it eats your blood.”  

This is where blood donors step in and can truly make a difference. Aja has received blood transfusions multiple times to treat anemia caused by lupus. In some cases, lupus patients develop autoimmune hemolytic anemia, where the body destroys its own red blood cells. Transfusions from donors can be lifesaving, restoring healthy blood volume, improving oxygen delivery, and helping people like Aja regain enough strength to live a more normal life.  

Aja recounts how much better she feels after a transfusion, “My heart slows down, I can breathe, and while I’m still tired, I get a little bit of life back,” she said. “It gives me a fighting chance. Blood donors — they literally give people like me life.” 

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. That includes trauma victims, cancer patients, and people living with chronic illnesses like lupus. Platelets and red blood cells play a crucial role in managing these conditions. For those like Aja, blood donations are not just helpful; they are essential. 

Aja has experienced the full spectrum of lupus treatment in addition to blood transfusions. She’s been on steroids, immunosuppressive drugs, and therapies that come with difficult side effects.  

“The treatments are often ‘necessary evils,’” she said. “They help you survive, but they can take a toll — hair loss, fatigue, even heart issues." 

Still, she remains focused on helping others and spreading awareness. Aja recently traveled to Chicago to meet with one of the country’s leading lupus specialists after a concerning thyroid mass was found. Even in the midst of health uncertainty, she speaks with gratitude and resolve. “The lupus is aggravated right now, but we’re ahead of it. We’ve got a plan, and I’ve got my family — and I’ve got the people who donate blood.” 

Aja’s voluteer role with the Red Cross is a continuation of her mission to serve others. As a disaster case manager, she walks alongside people who’ve just experienced some of the hardest days of their lives. Her empathy comes from experience. “I know what it’s like to feel scared, to feel like your body is betraying you,” she said. “It has come full circle for me… I am able to say thank you to donors and show them that I am the embodiment of what it looks like to be able to work.” 

For Aja, every pint of blood is more than a donation — it’s a lifeline. “They’re not just giving blood,” she said. “They’re giving someone like me a chance to keep going.” 

You can help people like Aja by making an appointment to give blood or platelets. Visit RedCrossBlood.org to find a blood drive near you.