September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month

 

• Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects an estimated 70,000 to 100,000 persons in the United States.  Their red blood cells are shaped like the sickles used to cut wheat. 
• Sickle cells have a tendency to form clumps.  These clumps can block blood flow in the blood vessels that lead to the limbs and organs and cause a sudden onset of severe pain called a “sickle cell crisis". 
• Painful crises are the leading cause of emergency room visits and hospitalizations of people who have sickle cell disease.
• Because sickle cell patients often develop a tolerance to pain medications, many require higher or more frequent dosages to manage their pain than patients who have not lived with chronic pain.
• Complications of sickle cell disease include anemia, jaundice, gallstones, lung damage, leg ulcers, pulmonary artery hypertension, blindness, stroke, infections, bone deterioration and multiple organ failure. 
• There is no widely accepted cure.

 

In memory of my nephew, Watson,  who died from complications of sickle cell disease.  Today is his birthday.  He would have been 45 years old.

I'm so sorry.  Its such an awfull illness that takes people in their prime because of the the chonic pain and despair that comes with it,  as well as from organ failure.  Condolences to you and your family. 

Thank you.  It's been several years since we lost him, but this time of the year is hard.

It's a misunderstood disease that people find it hard to understand.  The only thing that we all know most of the time it's cause an  untimely death. The month of August in one of my hardest time my daughter pass with complication from SCD. It's been 14 years and seems like yesterday. THANKS SO BLESS FOR PUTTING IN LIKE IT REALLY IS AND I ALSO WILL BE SAYING MY PRAYERS FOR YOUR FAMILY.

TO ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE LOST LOVE ONE TO SCD I PRAY DAILY THAT SOMETHING WILL COME SOON TO COMFORT AND RELIEVE THEM OF ALL THEIR PAINS.

It's been 14 years and seems like yesterday.


I know that feeling so well, Kathleen.