Growing up with sickle cell disease wasn’t easy for James. Throughout his childhood, he experienced pain, infections, surgeries and countless hospitalizations. He missed a lot of school, couldn’t spend as much time with his friends, and even spent birthdays and holidays in a hospital bed. “But no matter how difficult it got or how bad the pain was, the one thing that I could count on to help me recover quickly and bounce back was a blood transfusion,” he says.
James was young when he received his first transfusion and wasn’t sure what to expect. But as an adult, blood transfusions have become old hat—and something he relies on to treat his disease. “The reason donating blood is important to me is because it has allowed me to have a better quality of life and kept me out of the hospital,” he says. “With the help of blood transfusions, I have been able to stay healthy, maintain a career in the medical field, and do more of the things I love, like traveling, spending time with family and friends, and rooting on my favorite basketball team, the Milwaukee Bucks.
“Thank you, blood donors. You are true heroes.”
Your Blood Can Help Someone Thrive
For many people living with sickle cell disease, donated blood is more than a treatment. It can mean more time at home with family, more days at school or work, and more opportunities to enjoy the moments that make life meaningful.
People with sickle cell disease need blood transfusions throughout their lives. Closely matched blood can help make those transfusions safer and more effective. That is why donors from every background are needed, and why African American donors can play an especially meaningful role. Certain blood characteristics that can be important for people with sickle cell disease are more commonly found in donors with shared ancestry.
When you donate blood with Versiti, your gift may directly support someone living with sickle cell disease or another patient who depends on donated blood. You become part of a community of care helping people feel stronger, stay healthier and live fuller lives.
Schedule an appointment today. Your blood could be the match someone has been waiting for.
