You Can Help Ease The Pain Of Sickle Cell Disease
At just six months of age, Tiereney Bell was diagnosed with sickle cell disease.
This genetic blood disease can cause extreme pain and life-threatening complications. “It’s like having a rubber band around your wrist that’s getting tighter and tighter and never releases,” said Bell, describing the pain of a sickle cell crisis. At 17, she suffered a mini-stroke that caused slight paralysis on the left side of her body, a complication of the disease. She spent months in physical therapy to overcome the paralysis.
In the U.S. it’s estimated more than 100,000 people—the majority of African descent—live with sickle cell disease. The condition distorts soft, round blood cells and turns them hard and crescent-shaped. These cells can get caught in blood vessels which can cause extreme pain and lead to stroke and organ failure.
A two-time HBCU graduate, Bell credits regular blood transfusion treatments with helping her complete her studies at Xavier University and Morehouse School of Medicine, where she earned a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Epidemiology. Today, she works as an epidemiologist at the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as a sickle cell advocate.
“Most sickle cell patients battle pain every day; most days in silence,” said Bell. “Those who understand how important blood donation is and continue to donate blood have truly earned the right to be called heroes. This selfless act is why I am still thriving.”
For Bell, blood donors who are Black can help provide a compatible match. The American Red Cross is currently screening all blood, platelet, and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. Because sickle cell trait testing at birth was not widely provided until 2006, this screening provides blood donors with additional health insight.
To help save the lives of people with sickle cell disease, schedule an appointment to give blood by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/OurBlood, downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, calling 1-800-Red-Cross (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
