Celebrating International World Sickle Cell Day!

Over the weekend, in the United States, Juneteenth celebrations happened across the country. However, the world celebrated World Sickle Cell Day. Officially celebrated on June 19th along with Juneteenth, all sorts of local events took place. Blood drives, walks, different educational programs were the celebration and awareness took place. Locally here in the Metro Detroit area, the focus was on social media and #ShineTheLight was the hashtag. It was collectively used across the United States and, the Sickle Cell Association of America Michigan Chapter wanted those living with the illness, family, caregivers and supporters to wear any T-shirt representing sickle cell and post it on Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram.

Here in the state of Michigan, Governor Whitmer signed a proclamation for World Sickle Cell Day. She declared that June 19th, 2023 in the state of Michigan as Sickle Cell Day. The proclamation gives a brief statement on the facts of sickle cell disease, for example, there are close to 2800 Michigan residents who live with sickle cell disease. Then it goes on to talk about the budget of 2022 helped to fund for the treatment of the disease and that it will continue to remain invested in continuing education, screenings and medical care.

By now, if you are still asking yourself, "What is Sickle Cell", here is your educational and history lesson. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder, which means it is not contagious and that it is not transferrable by blood. However, it is genetic and that is how it is passed down, through the genes that you get from your parents. The individuals who live and fight daily with sickle cell disease, have abnormal types of hemoglobin, hemoglobin S. That creates and causes the red blood cells to take on an abnormal shape like that of a crescent moon or sickled shaped. In return, it can create difficulty of the blood cells to pass through easily in your small blood vessels, which can create less blood flow throughout the body and other complications.

According to http://www.sicklecelldisease.org, there are several types of sickle cell disease. Hemoglobin SS, Hemoglobin SC Disease and Sickle Cell Beta-Plus Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Beta-Zero Thalassemia. To read more about sickle cell, please visit the website of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, there you can read more about the disease and how to become involved and a support. So next year for World Sickle Cell Day, maybe you can spearhead a local event in your community to support Sickle Cell Disease