The misshapen cells also can clog blood flow if they get stuck in small vessels meant to carry normally round red blood cells, which can cause pain and other complications such as infections, acute chest syndrome - a pneumonia-like illness - and stroke.ĭr. Sickle cells die early, which leads to a shortage of red blood cells. The hemoglobin protein is abnormal in the red blood cells of someone with sickle cell disease - hemoglobin carries oxygen - and that causes the red blood cells to become hard, sticky and take the shape of a sickle. ![]() Mickens said there's also always a shortage of good blood matches for patients who have sickle cell disease. ![]() Mickens said COVID-19, which itself disproportionately affected Black communities, exacerbated bad health outcomes for people living with sickle cell disease. More: 'Wellness, community, justice and God': New Des Moines nonprofit promotes Black women's health Progress has been made on treating sickle cell disease but 'We're not quite there yet,' according to a Des Moines doctorĪngela Mickens, who heads the health coalition of Des Moines' "Black Women 4 Healthy Living" nonprofit, said Saturday was the first time the organization had sponsored a blood drive at a Juneteenth event in Des Moines, though it was the group's third sponsored blood drive this year. The disease disproportionately affects people who are Black in other ways as well, and that's why it made sense for the organizers of Saturday's blood drive to have it at the Juneteenth event, in the lobby of the Pappajohn Educational Center - to raise awareness and try to diversify the pool of people who donate blood. has a combination of sickle cell trait genes that causes them to develop symptoms. has one of the genes that can pass on the group of inherited red blood cell disorders, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ībout one out of every 365 Black or African American children born in the U.S. The disease does not exclusively affect people who are Black or African American, but about one out of every 13 Black or African American children born in the U.S. ![]() Trish Robinson, 38, of Des Moines, said on stage Saturday at the Iowa Juneteenth Observance Neighbor's Day Celebration, "I wouldn't be here" without the more than 25 blood transfusions she's received in her life since she was diagnosed with sickle cell disease as a young child. beyond an estimate of 100,000, or how many people who give blood may in doing so also give a better chance for people fighting the disease who need a blood transfusion.īut a Christian-centered nonprofit focused on Black women's wellness and the American Red Cross partnered to hold a blood drive Saturday in downtown Des Moines to try to improve those chances. No one knows exactly how many people live with sickle cell disease in the U.S. View Gallery: Photos: Iowa Juneteenth Neighbor's Day Celebration
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