Did you know?
(Watch Dr. Drew Video)

African-American leaders like Dr. Charles Drew and Dr. Jerome Holland helped build the foundation for modern blood banking.

Dr. Drew conducted groundbreaking research in blood storage and preservation that is still relied on today. His appointment as the medical director of the “Plasma for Britain” project  during World War II saved the lives of thousands of soldiers and sailors.

Dr. Holland’s distinguished career led to the creation of the Jerome H. Holland Laboratory in Maryland, one of the world’s leading blood research institutes.

Why Donate? | What Is Sickle Cell Disease | Patient Testimonials

Why should African-Americans donate blood?

Increasing African-American donations is vital because blood types O and B, the blood types of about 70 percent of African-Americans, are also the blood types most in demand.

Researchers have found that African-Americans are under-represented among blood donors, and that minority donors in general are less likely to become regular donors. Genetically-similar blood is preferred for those who need repeated blood transfusions, and for conditions like sickle cell disease (SCD), which primarily affects African-Americans. Blood that closely matches a patient’s is less likely to be rejected by the patient and can mean fewer complications after a transfusion.

Furthermore, thousands of patients with leukemia and other life-threatening diseases often need a bone marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant. Adding more donors and cord blood units from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to the National Marrow Donor Program’s Be The Match Registry (available through Florida’s Blood Centers) increases the likelihood that all patients will find the match they need.

Queens mother calls for blood donors

 (The Queens Courier 2.21.11)

A single mother from Queens and the New York Blood Center are calling for more African-Americans to become blood donors.

Davina Daniels, 37, of Springfield Gardens suffers from sickle cell disease and has had difficulty finding donors who match her blood type for a transfusion.



“We need more African Americans to become blood donors, and give blood regularly,” said Melinda Caltabiano, director of New York Blood Center’s PreciseMatch Program citing the fact that there is only one matching active donor for Daniels, an African-American.



For people with sickle cell disease, repeated blood tranfusions are vital to replace their “sickled” blood cells with healthy red blood cells. As more transfusions take place, patients build up antibodies in their blood, thus requiring more precisely matched red-blood transfusions. These matches often come from people from the same ethnic and racial backgrounds.

What is sickle cell disease (SCD)?

SCD is the most common genetic disease in the African-American community. SCD affects approximately 1 in 396 African-American newborns and approximately 72,000 persons in the United States.

SCD is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. People with SCD have red blood cells that contain mostly hemoglobin S, an abnormal type of hemoglobin. Sometimes these red blood cells become sickle-shaped (crescent shaped) and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels.

When sickle-shaped cells block small blood vessels, less blood can reach that part of the body. Tissue that does not receive a normal blood flow eventually becomes damaged. This is what causes the complications of SCD. There is currently no universal cure for SCD.

African-American blood donors are more likely to be a match for the majority of individuals with SCD in the United States, making them ideal donors to help SCD patients receiving regular blood transfusion therapy.

In other words, blood from donors of the same ethnic background decreases the chance of causing complications or reactions for patients with SCD.

Patient Testimonials

Justin's Story (Watch Video)
When Justin was a baby he would scream, cry and hold out his hand whenever he was suffering from pain related to sickle cell disease (SCD). Doctors diagnosed him with the incurable disease when he was just a year old. Justin needs fresh red blood cells from matching donors to replace his sickle shaped cells.

Justin is 14 years old now and despite the disease he can enjoy typical teenage activities such as listening to music and playing football. He keeps his SCD under control with folic acid, vitamins and by staying hydrated, but he always knows when he’s about to experience pain. He says it’s almost unbearable, but he usually feels better while being transfused with blood from donors.

Justin’s mother and sister also have the sickle cell trait, but so far they have not experienced a crisis. Justin must cope with SCD the rest of his life. With no cure in sight he knows more blood transfusions are likely in his future.

Ciera's Story (Watch Video)
Like many sixth graders, Ciera Nesmith loves cheerleading, spending time with friends and creating new outfits. But, unlike most girls her age, Ciera spent almost half of her life in the hospital. Ciera suffers from sickle cell anemia which means her red blood cells are sickle or crescent shaped. They are stiff and sticky and can form clumps that get lodged in her blood vessels. This blocks blood flow causing pain, organ damage and even death.

When Ciera’s sickle cell disease flares up she says it feels like someone is pounding or stabbing her.  She relies on blood from donors to increase the “normal” red blood cells in her system.

As with any blood transfusion the patient and donor have to be a match. In Ciera’s case, it’s easier to find a match for her in the African American community because people from the same ethnic background are more like to have blood that contain similar factors and antigens. Ciera will live with sickle cell anemia the rest of her life. There is no cure for the disease and blood transfusions are a necessity in order for her to stay alive.

Terrell's Story (Watch Video)
Terrell Wilson said his 21st birthday was the best birthday he ever had.  He posed for pictures with the Orlando Magic cheerleaders, danced with Bo Outlaw and even talked to Dwight Howard on the phone, but this once in a life time birthday party would be his last.

Doctors diagnosed Terrell with leukemia after he developed a cold and flu-like symptoms he just couldn’t shake.  He relied on blood and platelets to get through chemotherapy treatment, but what Terrell really needed was a bone marrow match. He spent weeks on end in the hospital waiting on a match that never came through.
Florida’s Blood Centers Chief Medical Affairs Officer, Dr. Tisha Foster says,  “In order to find the right match that the transplant can be successful they’re most likely to find a match within their own ethnicity, so it’s really important that we have a variety of ethnicities on the bone marrow registry in which to choose from for these patients.”

Terrell passed away on Christmas Day 2009, but his legacy lives on as his story continues to inspire people to donate blood and join the National Bone Marrow Registry.

Leadership Summit
(Watch Video of Recent Summit)

Some of the most influential African-American leaders in Central Florida are helping save local lives. Florida's Blood Centers recently recruited prominent leaders in the community to help educate African-Americans about the importance of blood donations. Their ideas will be used to encourage other African-Americans to roll up their sleeves and give the gift of life.

*Sources consulted for the statements made in this document include America’s Blood Centers, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Transfusion: the Journal of the American Association of Blood Banks, and Transfusion Medicine: Official Journal of the British Blood Transfusion Society.