Story told by: Nick Gibson

“I remember being just five years old, being hooked up to three different IVs. One for hydration, one for blood, one for emergencies. That was my life,” said Jessica. “If you could save a random five-year-old girl’s life, why wouldn’t you?”

Jessica De Nkamba, a junior at Allen University, an HBCU, is living with sickle cell disease, a condition she’s had since a child.

Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic blood disorder in the U.S., and regular blood transfusions are critical to manage extreme pain and life-threatening complications.

Despite the challenges of living with sickle cell disease, Jessica is committed to raising awareness and giving back to her community by hosting American Red Cross blood drives.

“It can be dangerous if you’re not educated about it,” said Jessica. “I know people personally who got tested for sickle cell and didn’t have a clue in the world that they had the trait. So, when I hosted my first blood drive, I made sure to let everyone know.”

September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, and Jessica often reflects on the journey that has shaped her life. She hopes to help others understand the importance of sickle cell disease awareness every day, not just during the month of September.

“Just bringing awareness to it; sickle awareness is a constant thing,” said Jessica.

Sickle cell disease distorts soft and round red blood cells and turns them hard and crescent-shaped. 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, anemia, and even strokes.

In the U.S., it is estimated that over 100,000 people have sickle cell disease and may require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lifetime — as many as 100 units of blood per patient each year.

Jessica says she fights this disease daily, and some days are more challenging than others. She is particularly prone to sickle cell crises, which can make it difficult to breathe, see, or even speak.

“I was actually in the ER just a few days ago because the pain got the best of me, and I just couldn’t do it,” said Jessica. “I’m more so impacted by joint pain, so they’re usually abbreviated. It will be in my hips, tailbone, lower back, knees, even like my elbows and shoulders.”

Jessica, who is also a member of the Allen University women's wrestling team, says she has an apheresis port that helps her receive treatment for sickle cell disease. Although the treatment helps manage her condition, it often leaves her exhausted and unable to participate in other activities for the rest of the day

She adds that she would like to encourage everyone to donate blood or platelets to help sickle cell patients in need.

Schedule an appointment to donate today by visiting RedCrossBlood.org.