Black People Are Not the Only Sickle Cell Patients #SickleCellis

Sickle Cell is not a Black Disease, it's a blood disease

Have you heard anyone say sickle cell is a disease only black people get? This statement is a myth, in fact, Black People are not the only Sickle Cell Patients.

Anyone can have sickle cell disease (SCD). It’s true that it’s more common in Black people, but anyone can be born with it, which is why newborn screening is done in all children and not just people of color.

This is also why my coloring book images are diverse, all types of families are learning how to cope having a loved one living with SCD.

I did not grow up talking about sickle cell disease or knowing anyone who had the disease so I never personally associated the condition with race. However, now that I’m order and have done extensive research about sickle cell disease I numerous people even clinicians who felt that only Black people suffer from sickle cell disease.

Now that you know, please share this message

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In 2014, I interviewed a guest who wrote in anonymously that sickle cell disease can affect someone is biracial as well. For more context please read “Can a Biracial Person Have Sickle Cell Anemia? #30forSickleCell.”

One champion in the SCD community is Lisa Rose. She is a White mom who has two biological children who were born with sickle cell disease. Lisa is a dedicated advocate and has written a book entitled: “Sickle Cell What?” Please check out her book which is geared towards pre-K and Elementary students.

Another Advocate who is not African American is Jaimee Roquee. Jaimee is the founder of the DFW Sickle Cell Kids Crew Nonprofit in Texas and the mother of two children who live with sickle cell disease. Jaimee shared the follow message on her page and is always committed to educated the world about the disease.

From Jaimee

“Did you know the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital first research grant, before their doors opened in 1962, was for Sickle Cell Disease? Did you know they still treat Sickle Cell patients today? So why is St. Jude silent about Sickle Cell? It’s time for St. Jude to speak out on Sickle Cell and help raise awareness! On the other hand, did you know that Bone Marrow Transplants (BMT) were initially used to cure cancer patients? In 1984, a cancer patient who also happened to have Sickle Cell, underwent a BMT and to everyone’s surprise, it cured her of her Sickle Cell Disease! We can always count on Be The Match – where you register to be a potential marrow donor by a simple swab of the cheek – to speak up for Sickle Cell and do their part to raise awareness. Thank you, Be The Match, for standing in our corner and fighting the fight along side of us! Reagan is hosting a virtual Be The Match Registry drive through the end of September. Text WS4SCD to 61474 for information.”

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