Story told by Mandy McWherter

At just 11 years old, Dreylan has already been hospitalized more times than his mother, Vesha Jamison of Columbia, SC, cares to count.

Dreylan has sickle cell disease, which causes his red blood cells to harden and form a C-shape (like a sickle). When hardened, the sickled red blood cells can get caught in his blood vessels and can cause serious complications. These complications can include severe pain, respiratory conditions, organ failure, and even stroke.

There is no widely used cure for sickle cell disease. However, the American Red Cross supports one of the most critical sickle cell treatments of all – blood transfusions.

“It literally brings him back to life,” Vesha shares how a blood transfusion helps her son Dreylan. “When his blood count is low, he is lifeless and lethargic. A transfusion replenishes his healthy red blood cells and allows him to be the kid that he is again.”

After many years of advocating for her son and witnessing first-hand the restorative power of blood transfusions, Vesha joined the American Red Cross as a Sickle Cell Account Manager. In this role, she raises awareness of sickle cell disease and educates the community about the need for diverse blood donors and their unique ability to help patients like her son.

Recently, Dreylan was having a pain crisis that necessitated a hospital trip. He was diagnosed with RSV and acute chest syndrome, a common and serious complication for kids with sickle cell. On the Monday they arrived at the hospital, Vesha described her son as ‘out of it, super down, and very fatigued.’

At that point, the doctors determined Dreylan would likely need a blood transfusion because his hemoglobin levels were dangerously low. The doctors matched and typed Dreylan’s blood with hopes of him receiving a blood transfusion the next day.

“It was bad – I didn’t like it. I couldn’t move that much,” Dreylan describes how he was feeling in the hospital. “I wanted to run, and I couldn’t.”

On Tuesday, Vesha and her son learned he would not be getting a transfusion that day, and instead, the doctors would begin a protocol to determine if he truly needed a transfusion. While they waited, Dreylan’s counts continued to drop.

“We’ve been talking about the critically low blood supply, but for us to experience it first-hand, it was very nerve-wracking, to say the least,” said Vesha as she recalls the frightening wait for a blood match for Dreylan. “Just knowing that we had to wait to find the right blood. It meant that there wasn’t blood that he needed readily available – we had to wait for it to come in.”

Dreylan didn’t receive a transfusion until Wednesday, when his hemoglobin had dropped to 6.2, or less than 50% of normal, healthy levels for a child his age.

 “Within those two to three days, anything could have happened. This goes to show how important it is to donate blood. And why we do what we do,” said Vesha on the serious state of the American Red Cross national blood supply. “Our experience made it very real that the blood shortage is critical right now.”

When blood supplies are low, patients like Dreylan can suffer worsening symptoms while waiting for essential blood transfusions. That’s why the American Red Cross launched the Sickle Cell Initiative to increase blood availability for patients with sickle cell disease.

“When he finally got the blood, he was almost like a new kid, he was perky, he was laughing, he was smiling, he was talking,” Vesha said with joy as she remembered the feeling of relief. “It was exciting to see him back to himself.”

Normally, a happy and active child, the hospitalization and illness zapped Dreylan of his energy. After several weeks of recovery, Dreylan is back to his playful self, running around with his mom in the park.  

You can help patients like Dreylan or people with complicated childbirths, those battling cancer, people with chronic health conditions such as heart disease, those with traumatic injuries from accidents, and many more. Make an appointment to give blood by visiting redcrossblood.org.