Sickle Cell Disease Questions Answered in Interview with Dr. Nadira El-Amin

Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic blood disease in the U.S., affecting over 100,000 people of various racial and ethnic backgrounds, most of whom are of African descent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention per Associated Press, people with sickle cell disease are at greater risk of severe illness and death from respiratory infections. Sickle cell patients often require regular blood transfusions throughout their lifetimes and, just like patients who receive organ transplants, they require closely matched blood.

In the two-part series on “Sickle Cell Disease: Advancing the Conversation Through Education, Awareness and Collaboration,” Atiya Leach of the American Red Cross interviews Dr. Nadira El-Amin, Pediatric Hematologist and Oncologist for Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Together they discuss what exactly sickle cell disease is, the most common symptoms and how sickle cell disease affects the body. These videos will also teach you how to know when someone should seek medical attention and what a pain crisis looks like for someone with sickle cell disease.

Finding the right match can be challenging, but you can help! In honor of World Sickle Cell Day on June 19, why not schedule a donation? Your blood could be the exact match a patient needs so schedule today and help save lives!