Promising Blood Donation Trend Helping Sickle-Cell Patients

September marks National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, highlighting an inherited disease that affects more than 100,000 Americans. The condition causes red blood cells to form abnormal crescent shapes, disrupting blood flow and requiring patients to depend on regular blood transfusions for survival.

A promising trend is now strengthening the blood supply for these patients. The American Red Cross reports that blood donations from Black Americans have rebounded after a concerning decline, thanks to targeted initiatives at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Since 2021, these efforts have collected over 7,300 pints of blood.

This development is critical because more than 90% of sickle cell patients are non-Hispanic Black or African American, and Black donors are almost three times more likely to be compatible matches. One patient featured in our story has received over 800 blood transfusions in her lifetime after suffering a stroke at age four.

Watch the video above to hear directly from a sickle cell patient about how this trend is critical for her survival and learn more about the Red Cross initiative making a difference.