In the wilting heat and humidity of summers in Houston and later in St. Louis, she took scorching hot baths, swam in very warm water and avoided air conditioning after swimming and bathing.

Diagnosed at 18 months with sickle cell disease, Tanjila Bolden found that warm air and water helped soothe the excruciating pain coursing through her body—in her bones and every joint. Both her parents carried the sickle cell trait, but Tanjila was the only one in her family to have the full-blown disease.

This debilitating disease affects approximately 100,000 Americans and occurs in about 1 of every 365 African-American births and in 1 of every 16,300 Hispanic-American births. Those with the disease have red blood cells that are crescent- (or sickle-) shaped. This abnormal shape makes it difficult for the cells to travel through the blood vessels. As the sickle cells clog the blood vessel, they can block blood flow to various parts of the body, causing painful episodes and raising the risk of infection. In addition, sickle cells die earlier than healthy cells, causing a constant shortage of red blood cells---also known as anemia. The condition requires frequent blood transfusions.

In fact, it was a blood exchange transfusion that saved Tanjila’s life. After struggling through many visits to the hospital, she earned her high school diploma while living in St. Louis, where she moved when she was 8 years old. Her high school graduation gift was a trip back to Houston to visit with family. Plane travel can be dangerous for those suffering from sickle cell disease because they are subjected to extended periods of reduced oxygen levels due to altitude changes, and cold temperatures.

Tanjila was in real pain when she arrived in Houston. “I tried to push through and not let anyone know because I did not want to spoil the trip,’ she recalled. “On about the third day, I realized I was in real trouble. I ended up being admitted to the hospital and told I had to have an exchange transfusion – the complete replacement of all my blood. Doctors said the procedure could kill me, but doing nothing would definitely kill me.”

After praying, she chose to go through with the procedure. Her mother, an educator, flew to Houston to be with her. Tanjila was just 18 years old. She sat in a recliner with limited pain medicine for hours as a machine slowly removed all her blood and replaced it with fresh donor blood.

“People do not realize the power that is in blood—that the one bag of your blood that you donate can save the lives of three people. I was wheeled into the room where the procedure took place—unable to walk and in a crisis. After the transfusion, I walked out of the room. The next day I took a plane back to St. Louis. It was a miracle,” she said.

Over the years, Tanjila continued to need transfusions; she estimates they number nearly 40 now. She went on to earn two master’s degrees—one in social work and one in Christian ministry with a focus on biblical counseling.

Tanjila is active with the Sickle Cell Association. She served as the coordinator for the Youth and Family Center sickle cell programs before joining Saint Louis Public School’s administrative staff. She runs an outreach program for families of Vashon High School students, providing a mobile food market and other necessities and offering counseling, an after-school program and adult education courses.

For several years, she has also hosted two annual blood drives at the high school. “Students who donate are eligible for a scholarship based on the number of units of blood we collect,” Tanjila said. “One of the drives is always in September because September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month—so it’s appropriate that we remind everyone that donating blood is vital. We also hold a drive in February.”

Tanjila is also on the advisory board and planning committee of the Red Cross’ Dr. Charles Drew Program. Named in honor of an African American physician who developed ways to process and store blood plasma, this program encourages African Americans to give blood. Its members assist at blood drives and help support those with sickle cell disease who need regular transfusions.

The mother of a 22-year-old son and a 2-year-old grandson, Tanjila says she is blessed that, while her son has the sickle cell trait, her grandson does not and that neither has the full-blown disease. She is also overjoyed and grateful that she has found a medical treatment that has vastly improved her quality of life. Since 2012, Tanjila has not been hospitalized thanks to a treatment called Hydroxyurea, which works by increasing the fetal hemoglobin.

But she still realizes the importance of blood donation in helping the patients with sickle cell disease. “We need to tell everyone that those with the sickle cell trait CAN give blood,” Tanjila added. “Our community needs to realize we play a significant role in helping those who are battling this disease.”