By Joshitha Yellapu

God's Way Baptist Church held a Sickle Cell Anemia Blood Drive and Community Health Fair on May 30. Deanna Hinton, who hosted the drive, spent countless days preparing for the event and ensured it was stress-free. Hinton gave blood and educated her community about giving blood for sickle cell warriors.

More than 100,000 people in the United States have sickle cell disease. It is a common, inherited red blood disorder. Throughout their lives, individuals living with sickle cell disease can suffer a range of conditions, including acute anemia, tissue and organ damage, terrible pain and even strokes.

“My goal is to help bring awareness to the disease and make sure everyone knows how important it is to donate to these kinds of blood drives, to make sure that the stories are heard,” Hinton said.

She has been donating blood for seven years, ever since a family member was diagnosed with bladder cancer and needed transfusions.

“They needed blood donations, so I started giving blood then,” she said. "I'm determined, just not on the regular, because I'm scared of needles.”

Her iron level has also been too low to donate on some occasions, she said. So, Hinton created educational programs to improve one’s iron levels. She taught classes on eating iron-rich foods, such as beets, to help people with low iron levels donate blood. After being cleared to donate, Hinton was " excited that [my] iron count was up enough” for her to donate.

Through the Red Cross Blood Donor app, Hinton learned about the journey of her blood, where it went and how her blood saved a patient in need.

“They emailed me and told me that someone in Louisiana needed my blood, and I was like, ‘Yes! It helped someone," she said. "That makes it more exciting when they let someone know the reason you gave blood today, why and then where your blood went."

The blood drive at God's Way Baptist Church also hosted several medical vendors, nurses and representatives from UT Tyler and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. The local fire department also checked blood pressures and talked with children about what first responders do. They showcased options for preventative care, such as a mammogram truck.

For Hinton, the drive was about more than donating blood. It also served to raise awareness about the impact of sickle cell disease, which has claimed the lives of several members of God’s Way over the years.

North Texas residents can schedule their appointment today and learn more about Sickle Cell disease and how their donation can help patients in need by visiting redcrossblood.org/sicklecell.