WILMINGTON, Del. – In solemn observance of Sickle Cell Awareness month, BBD held the third annual Sickle Cell Association of Delaware Blood Drive on Monday, September 4.
The Sickle Cell Association booked ten donors for what has historically been a small drive and ended up collecting eight units.
One of those units came from the blood drive coordinator herself, Donna Monroe.
Donna is founder and executive director of the Sickle Cell Association.
“I started in honor of my granddaughter, who has sickle cell anemia. After many, many nights at {Nemours] A.I. duPont Children’s Hospital, I saw how crucial and critical the need for blood is.
“It’s not just a vital treatment; it’s actually a matter of saving lives,” she said. “Without the blood, they could lose their lives. We have to have blood that matches. We need blood from people who look like us in our community, and it’s just not happening. My granddaughter has developed antibodies, so just a regular batch of blood is not going to work for her. It has to be matched…”
Ms. Donna was referring to the fact that there are sickle cell patients who respond better to transfusions that come from people of the same ethnicity. Because sickle cell anemia predominantly affects African Americans, one in three African American donors are a match for sickle cell patients, according to America’s Blood Centers.
BBD Director of Laboratories Kristin Frederick has said that ethnicity can play an important role in determining the best match between donors and transfusion recipients. In essence, patients with conditions such as sickle cell anemia, a blood disease that predominantly affects African Americans, require regular blood transfusions to treat their symptoms and the blood is matched beyond the ABO blood type.
She was also referring to her wish (and Donna’s) to see an increase in African American donors. This demographic is 22.5 percent of the state population, but they are just 5 percent of BBD donors.
“It’s a mission,” Donna said. “It’s a hard nut to crack. We keep trying. I talk to people and tell them we need the blood to save lives. It’s serious. …If we don’t help us, who is going to help us? We can’t not do this. We need your help.”
Janet Tripp, a member of the Sickle Cell Association, also has a personal story behind sickle cell as well.
“I have a son who also has sickle cell,” Janet said. “He gets a transfusion, a maintenance exchange. That allows him to not have as many crises. It’s to save his life..”
In addition to Donna and Janet, Donna’s friend Lola Wilson was among the donors that came out on Monday.
“I happen to be one of those one in a million who lack certain antigens on my red blood cells to be a better match for patients who have sickle cell disease ,” Lola said. “It’s really easy. All you have to do is donate blood to find out if you can be a match too. This is a great time, the month of September, to go into the Blood Bank of Delmarva and help patients with sickle cell.”
Thank you, Lola, Donna and Janet for making a difference.
Adds Donna, “Whatever you do, do something. Don’t just sit back and do nothing. Thank you.”
BBD Account Manager Gia Rivera and Director, Donor Resources Nicole Pineault thanked the hardworking crew of Supervisor Jackeline Rivera, Bloodmobile Driver Ty McCall and Blood Collection Techs Adrea Haughton, Lexi Moore, Mariana Santana-Ruiz and Briyonni Brown for working on Labor Day for this blood drive.
“This was comparable to the ‘park and pray’ we held at Frawley Stadium last Friday night,” Nicole said. “It wasn’t the biggest draw, but this event was a success in terms of spreading awareness during Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Thanks to all involved.”
Thank you, Lola, Donna and Janet for making a difference.
Adds Donna, “Whatever you do, do something. Don’t just sit back and do nothing. Thank you.”
BBD Account Manager Gia Rivera and Director, Donor Resources Nicole Pineault thanked the hardworking crew of Supervisor Jackeline Rivera, Bloodmobile Driver Ty McCall and Blood Collection Techs Adrea Haughton, Lexi Moore, Mariana Santana-Ruiz and Briyonni Brown for working on Labor Day for this blood drive.
“This was comparable to the ‘park and pray’ we held at Frawley Stadium last Friday night,” Nicole said. “It wasn’t the biggest draw, but this event was a success in terms of spreading awareness during Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Thanks to all involved.”
