Jacqueline Scruggs is a 22-year old Nashville, Tenn. resident living with sickle cell disease, a diagnosis she received in infancy.
“I have pain in my back and chest and take morphine for it,” Scruggs said. “I’m okay with it. I’m used to it. I’m okay with it now.”
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells that contain an abnormal type of hemoglobin. Sometimes these red blood cells become sickle-shaped (crescent shaped) and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels.
Stephen Wolff, M.D. is the Director of the Sickle Cell Center at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn. Dr. Wolff said these blocked blood vessels can lead to numerous health problems.
“Patients can get lung damage, kidney damage, bone and joint problems, severe anemia and pain,” Dr. Wolff said.
Dr. Wolff said scheduled blood transfusions help reduce the pain associated with sickle cell disease.
“Many patients get more than 10-20 units of blood in a lifetime. Patients that get periodic transfusions usually get 2 transfusions a month for years at a time. It has to continue for many years to get the full benefit,” Dr. Wolff said.
Jacqueline Scruggs received 3 blood transfusions so far. She is grateful to those who donate blood.
“I think it’s good because you might lose a lot of blood and it’s good they can give it to you,” Scruggs said.
But more donations from ethnic populations are needed to benefit sickle cell disease patients. According to Dr. Wolff, the disease predominantly affects African-Americans, but is on the rise in Hispanic groups and Caucasians of Mediterranean descent.
“It would help if these patients had more matchable blood. We need to increase blood donations from populations with matchable blood,” Dr. Wolff said.
September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Show your support for patients with this disease by giving a life sustaining blood donation. Locally, you can donate on the following dates:
• Sunday, Sept. 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Luke’s Catholic Church - Knights of Columbus located at 10602 Old Nashville Highwayin Smyrna.
• Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Motlow State Community College located at 5002 Motlow State Blvd. in Smyrna.
• Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at LaVergne Old Timers Day located at Veteran’s Memorial Park in LaVergne.
• Sunday, Sept. 27, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at Saint Mark’s United Methodist Church located at 1267 N. Rutherford Blvd. inMurfreesboro.
• Sunday, Sept. 27, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Walter Hill Baptist Church located at 6607 Lebanon Pike in Murfreesboro.
In addition, the Murfreesboro Donor Center located at 836 Commercial Court is open:
• Monday & Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday 7 a.m. to 12 noon
• Labor Day , Monday, Sept. 7 – 8 a.m. to 12 noon
Donors must be in general good health, weigh 110 pounds or more, and be at least 17 years old (16 with completed Parental Consent Form). Please bring your donor card or photo ID.
Please allow approximately 60 minutes for the entire blood donation process. Appointments are encouraged. Walk-in donors are welcome; however, those with appointments will be given priority. For more information on blood donation, visit www.givelife.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.
About the Sickle Cell Center at Meharry Medical College
The Meharry Sickle Cell Center has more than a thirty-year history of service to the community and to patients with Sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies. In this capacity, the Center provides comprehensive services including clinical care, education, genetic counseling, laboratory services, and research. The Sickle cell clinic is located on the second floor of Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The American Red Cross is a charity, not a government agency, and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission.
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