June 19 is a special day this year. Not only is it Father’s Day and Juneteenth, it also has been designated as World Sickle Cell Day as a way to raise international awareness about sickle cell disease.
What is sickle cell disease?
Most red blood cells are round, which allows them to easily travel and carry oxygen through the body. Sickle cell disease is a chronic blood disease that causes the hemoglobin in red blood cells to take an abnormal C-shape, or a sickle shape. These cells have a harder time traveling through the body. They also die faster than healthy blood cells and can cause what is known as sickle cell anemia.
Affects on our community
For patients with the disease, like sisters Kami and Kyra, blood donations from the community are critical. They can completely change their quality of life. They have needed more than 100 blood transfusions as treatment to help manage severe, recurring episodes of pain and fatigue. The disease occurs in 1 out of every 365 Black or African American births and affects about 100,000 Americans.
How can you help?
By being a blood donor, you can give patients with this disease a chance at a normal life: return to school, dance, play sports, volunteer, and much more.
Support these patients by scheduling your donation at SouthTexasBlood.org/Give or by hosting a blood drive.
