September is recognized as Sickle Cell Awareness Month.
LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is requesting donors and scheduled blood drives to support local patients living with sickle cell disease, a blood disorder that affects approximately 100,000 people in the U.S., the majority of whom are Black.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, SCD is a group of inherited blood disorders characterized by the production of abnormal hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells. Responsible for transporting oxygen through the body, healthy hemoglobin is round. Abnormal hemoglobin presents itself as a sickle, and in such a case, red blood cells become hard and sticky and get stuck in small blood vessels, causing a lack of transport. And because sickle cells die early, there is a constant shortage of red blood cells.
These abnormalities can cause health complications including infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke.
Patients with SCD can also experience symptoms of chronic fatigue, extreme pain, breathlessness and increased risk of liver disease and delayed growth.
Often diagnosed at birth from routine newborn screening, SCD presents itself in several degrees of severity.
There are several types of SCD, some more severe than others. In America, SCD is often found at birth through routine newborn screening.
James Skahn, district recruitment manager for LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, said that patients living with SCD require blood transfusions to increase the amount of healthy red blood cells in their bloodstream while minimizing the effects of the sickle-shaped cells.
“The best matches come from donors of similar ethnic backgrounds,” he told the St. Augustine Record via email. “By giving blood, you’re not just making a donation – you’re becoming a lifeline for a neighbor in need.”
“Sickle Cell Awareness Month is a reminder of the urgent and ongoing need for blood donations in our community,” Skahn said.
“Every day, I meet donors who are making a direct difference for patients living with sickle cell disease,” said LifeSouth Community Blood Centers Donor Services Manager Faith Jarrett. “It’s inspiring to see how one simple act can bring relief to someone who is battling pain or serious complications. We encourage everyone to donate this month and help us support these patients.”
LifeSouth Community Blood Centers in St. Augustine is at 292 State Route 312. The hours are:
This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: St. Augustine blood center asks donors to help patients with sickle cell disease
Reporting by Lucia Viti, St. Augustine Record / St. Augustine Record
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