Left: Abe Young of Charleston receives treatment to manage his sickle cell disease. Young spends five days a week receiving various treatments, including dialysis and regular blood transfusions. Right: A diverse blood supply is important to ensure the needs of all patients are met. Red blood cells carry markers that determine one’s blood type, and some blood types are unique to certain racial and ethnic groups. Because blood from donors of the same ethnic background as the recipient is less likely to cause complications, the Red Cross must maintain a diverse blood supply to meet these diverse patient needs.
In the U.S., more than 100,000 people are estimated to be living with sickle cell disease, most of whom are of African descent. Abe Young of Charleston, SC, is one of those Sickle Cell Warriors.
“I was a little boy living in New Jersey when I learned I had sickle cell disease. I was in and out of the hospital as a kid throughout middle and high school,” said Abe as he recalled how the disease shaped his life. “It’s been quite a journey, honestly, and difficult to keep a job with being in the hospital so frequently.”
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 per year throughout their lifetime to treat complications from the disease.
“My sickle cell disease caused my kidneys to fail – I only have one kidney,” said Abe as he described the complications he’s experienced from the disease. “I’ve been getting dialysis for 22 years. I’m on dialysis now twice a week, and I get blood transfusions once a month.”
Blood given to those with sickle cell disease must be matched closely to reduce the risk of complications. A patient in need of blood is most likely to find a compatible match from a donor of the same race or similar ethnicity.
“The transfusions usually make me feel better, and I can survive until the next transfusion, but I know when it’s time for another one,” said Abe of the sustaining power of his monthly transfusion. While Abe has never had the chance to meet any of the people who’ve donated the blood he’s received, there’s no doubt he’s grateful to the donors who’ve helped keep him alive.
Abe is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, a historically African American fraternity. Together with the Red Cross, Phi Beta Sigma is working to raise awareness of Sickle Cell disease and educate its members about the need for diverse blood donors.
“It’s all good – it’s nothing to worry about. When you get a blood transfusion, you’re in good hands,” Abe offered words of encouragement to others battling sickle cell disease and facing future transfusions like him. “They always test the blood to make sure it’s a good match.”
Earlier this year, the Red Cross began screening all blood, platelet , and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening provides Black donors with an additional health insight and helps the Red Cross to identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease.
During September, Sickle Cell Awareness Month, the American Red Cross emphasizes the importance of a diverse blood supply to help meet the needs of those with sickle cell disease, the most common inherited blood disorder in the country. Eligible donors of all blood types are urged to make an appointment to help patients in need like Abe. Find a blood drive near you by visiting redcrossblood.org.
