what's happening now ?

Register Here

Order Here

---

Registration now open for the 2nd Annual Sickle Cell Warrior Walk-Run 5K.

​​Stay Hydrated with Sickle Cell DiseasE

When you have sickle cell disease, one of the best things you can do for yourself is drink water to stay hydrated. Staying hydrated can prevent you from having vaso-occlusive episodes (pain crises), strokes and infections associated with sickle cell disease.

It’s important to carry a water bottle with you and keep drinking water throughout the day.
·    Dehydration (not having enough water in the body) can be caused by:
·    Sweating in hot weather or during exercise
·    Diarrhea or vomiting
·    Frequent urination (sickle cell disease damages the kidneys, causing them to produce more urine than usual)

​Remember, skip the caffeine and alcohol. Drinks with caffeine (soda, coffee) or alcohol are not a good idea. These drinks make the kidneys excrete more water into the urine and can cause dehydration.

How much water should you drink? What foods can you eat to stay hydrated?
​

Click Here To Learn More

BTSSCYCLE Community Impact 

From Tianna & Larry Johnson:

"Growing up I was always told to make sure my partner didn't have the sickle cell trait before trying to conceive because I carried the (sickle cell) trait. It was always in the back of my mind but never did I think I would have a child with sickle cell disease. August 2018 I gave birth to a beautiful little girl named Nayomi. 1 month later we found out she had this painful blood disease. I was devastated & fell into depression not knowing much about it or what to do to keep my baby healthy.
That same month I was introduced to Dr. Scott. She reassured me that with God anything is possible & my baby was going to be ok. She told me her experiences with her son who also has sickle cell. When Nayomi had her first episode at 9 months & another at 12 months I reached out to Dr. Scott with so many questions & she responded easing my mind once again. From medications to vacations do's & dont's to starting school she's always answered my questions & for that I'm very thankful. 
​
Tianna Johnson, sickle cell trait carrier and caregiver   ​

Donate

Schedule A Blood Donation

---

​"Your everyday shopping can help make a difference, at no additional cost to you!  When you shop at smile.amazon.com, or in the Amazon app with AmazonSmile turned on within Settings, you'll find the same products and same low prices as the Amazon you already know - plus, they donate a portion of your purchases to your chosen charity.  You can select us as your AmazonSmile charity by visiting: smile.amazon.com/ch/47-4699142
​#amazonsmilecharity #amazonsmiledonates"

---

WHAT IS ​Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) ? 

---

DONATE TODAY .

Make a secure, online, tax deductible donation today.

Donate

SICKLE CELL FACTS.

---

What Causes
Sickle Cell Disease

GENETICS. 
SCD is a genetic condition that is present at birth. It is inherited when a child receives two sickle cell genes—one from each parent.

Symptoms and Treatment 


People with sickle cell disease can start to have signs of the disease during the first year of life, usually around 5 months of age. Pain is the hallmark sign of sickle cell disease.
​Symptoms and complications of SCD are different for each person and can range from mild to severe. 

Cure
Is There A Cure

Yes! A blood or marrow transplant  is the only known cure for SCD. Bone marrow is a soft, fatty tissue inside the center of the bones where blood cells are made. A bone marrow or stem cell transplant is a procedure that takes healthy cells that form blood from one person—the donor—and puts them into someone whose bone marrow is not working properly.

Sickle Cell Trait
Sickle cell trait is an inherited blood disorder that affects 1 million to 3 million Americans and 8 to 10 percent of African Americans. Sickle cell trait can also affect Hispanics, South Asians, Caucasians from southern Europe, and people from Middle Eastern countries. More than 100 million people worldwide have sickle cell trait.

Genetic Blood Disorder
Unlike sickle cell disease, a serious illness in which patients have two genes that cause the production of abnormal hemoglobin (the substance in red blood cells that helps carry oxygen), individuals with sickle cell trait carry only one defective gene, have normal functioning hemoglobin and typically live normal lives.

Newborn Testing
All newborns in the United States are now tested for sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait. Sickle cell disease can be identified before birth by testing a sample of amniotic fluid or tissue from the placenta. People who carry the sickle cell gene can seek genetic counseling before pregnancy to discuss options.

​DIAGNOSIS.

SCT is diagnosed with a simple blood test. People at risk of having SCT can talk with a doctor or health clinic about getting this test.

COMPLICATIONS.

Most people with SCT do not have any symptoms of SCD, although—in rare cases—people with SCT might experience complications of SCD, such as pain crises.