By: Penny Newberry

For Shayna Criss, donating blood is not an abstract concept or a once-a-year reminder. Instead, it is an ongoing personal journey to survive.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Criss grew up navigating life with sickle cell disease, a condition she downplayed during her school years. “I didn’t really step out of my shell until I was about 18,” Criss shared. That was the year she received her first blood transfusion, the first of 85.

Yet Criss’s life was not limited. She earned her degree from Bacone College in 1998 and married that fall. She welcomed her first child in 1999, had two more, and adopted a fourth. In 2006, she moved to Dallas for better long-term healthcare and support.

Faith and determination carried Criss through a career that included retail, tax preparation and the launch of her own tax firm in 2008.

“God is the judge and the jury,” she said. “He sets the tone.”

Criss once prioritized everything else over her health, a decision that ultimately caught up with her. Over four years, she had eight surgeries. Now, she has a different approach to her health.

“I’m a lot smarter now,” Criss said. “I advocate for myself.”

That advocacy extends beyond her own care. She is deeply committed to supporting other sickle cell warriors across Texas, especially in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. When she enters a hospital, she does so with intention.

Criss shares this advice with fellow warriors. “Go in with an open mind and an open heart,” she explains. “Advocate for yourselves. Build a relationship and rapport with your nurses because they are your advocates, too.”

Blood donations represent far more than a medical procedure. There have been times when she waited four and a half days for blood. Those waits are part of what fuels her passion for education and action.

“Cutting down the time it takes for people to receive blood matters,” Criss said. “It gives people a running start. A fighting chance.”

That sense of purpose led Criss to advocacy work and, eventually, to managing blood drives. What began with people asking her how to donate evolved into organizing online blood drives to connect donors with opportunities. In 2020, the American Red Cross invited her to host an in-person blood drive.

The first was held in Flower Mound and focused on sickle cell awareness. The response was powerful. “We collected quite a bit of blood,” she recalled. “There were people there with universal blood types.”

Now, as a blood drive manager, Criss brings her experience to every conversation. She shares her story openly, addresses misconceptions directly, and creates a welcoming environment for donors who may feel unsure.

“I’ve received donations from 85 people,” Criss said. “That makes me want to pay it forward forever.”

Criss has seen firsthand how one donation can ripple outward. A volunteer inspired by her story made his first donation in 2020. A young donor encouraged her own family to donate because their family members have been affected by sickle cell disease.

Beyond blood drives, Criss has also built an online platform for people living with sickle cell anemia. “You have to convince people you’re telling the truth when they can’t physically see what you’re dealing with,” she said. “They need understanding just like everyone else.”

Humor, Criss added, is also a part of survival. “I joke a lot. It’s better to laugh about it.”

When asked what she wishes blood donors understood, Criss’s answer was immediate and clear. “You can save three lives,” she said. “You’re giving someone else a fighting chance. You’re giving the gift of life.”

For those considering donating for the first time, Criss encourages curiosity rather than fear. “Ask questions,” she said. “Tell me your concerns, and we’ll get the answers.”

What Criss hopes readers take away from her story is understanding. “We all have the same life,” she said. “No one knows the time, the date, or the hour. You can’t put restrictions on that.”

Criss challenges the idea that people with sickle cell are fragile or incapable. “We’re not China dolls,” she said. “We can do everything. There needs to be education.”

Sickle cell disease affects more people than many realize, and misinformation persists. Criss’s message is simple yet powerful: learn, ask questions, and show up.

For Criss, blood donation is not just about sustaining life. It is about dignity, advocacy, and ensuring that the next person waiting for blood does not have to wait as she once did. It is about giving someone else a fighting chance for survival.

Click here to learn more about Sickle Cell Disease and join the fight in your community.