Story told by Amanda Graham, Red Cross Volunteer

Anitra Beaufort is a dedicated advocate for sickle cell disease awareness. Sickle cell disease distorts soft and round red blood cells and turns them hard and crescent shaped. As a result, blood has difficulty flowing smoothly and carrying oxygen to the rest of the body, which may lead to severe pain, tissue and organ damage, anemia, and even strokes.

The struggles of this disease hit close to home as her husband, Rubin, lives with and fights the condition daily. It is Anitra’s hope that more is done to raise awareness for those fighting sickle cell as well as more accessible treatments.

Sickle Cell is the most common genetic blood disorder and regular blood transfusions are critical to managing extreme pain and life-threatening complications. In the U.S., it is estimated that over 100,000 people have sickle cell disease and may require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lifetime — as many as 100 units of blood per patient each year.

“I’ll ask my husband when I know he’s not feeling his best how he is and he will just tell me he’s going to be alright,” said Anitra of what it’s like to witness a loved one dealing with a pain crisis. “But it is hard when I can look at him and see that he doesn’t feel well and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.”

Anitra states the disease does not stop her husband, he is a fighter and will still try to carry on. Rubin received his first blood transfusion when he was 35 years old. He now receives monthly blood exchanges where his unhealthy blood cells are replaced with up to 10 units of new, healthy blood cells. Unfortunately, frequent transfusions can also make finding compatible blood types more difficult when patients develop an immune response against donor blood.

Anitra commits that as long as there is breath in her body, she will continue to educate and raise awareness for patients with sickle cell disease. She is a blood donor and encourages others to donate as well. Anitra’s daughter, who has the sickle cell trait, is also a donor.

“That is another myth we need to break because there are people out there who think because they have the trait, they cannot donate blood and that is not the case,” Anitra emphasized.

Sickle cell trait is inherited, which means that an individual with the trait received a sickle cell gene from at least one parent but does not have sickle cell disease. It is estimated that about 1 in 13 Black or African American babies in the U.S. are born with sickle cell trait, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Individuals with sickle cell trait are encouraged to donate platelets or plasma to help those in need of lifesaving blood including cancer patients, burn victims, and patients with sickle cell disease undergoing gene therapy and stem cell transplants.

During September’s Sickle Cell Awareness month, the American Red Cross reminds people that blood and platelet donations are vital in supporting patients with sickle disease undergoing gene therapies, and stem cell transplants as well as those in need of regular blood transfusions to alleviate pain and help manage their disease. One in 3 African American blood donors is a match for people with sickle cell disease.

To help ensure patients have the blood products they need, the American Red Cross is working with partners in the Black community to help improve the well-being of patients. To learn more or to schedule an appointment for donation, please visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.