A Foundation Making Difference in Battle Against Sickle Cell

Summary

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"This is an organization formed for the parents by the parents (of children with sickle cell disease)," said Andrea Williams, executive director of CSCF. "The foundation was formed in 2002 and prior to that there were no organizations devoted to children with sickle cell disease."

People with sickle cell dis ease have red blood cells that contain mostly hemoglobin "S," an abnormal type of hemoglobin. The cells become sickle or crescent shaped, stiff and sticky 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 can cause complications of sickle cell disease.

"We want funding for research. It's been lax. We need to raise awareness of the lack of research being done," she said. "Sickle cell has been around for a long time and there is only one medication, whereas HIV/MDS has been around a shorter time and there are numerous medications available."

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A Foundation Making Difference in Battle Against Sickle Cell

Imagine having to constantly watch your child endure excruciating pain. A pain that has been described as feeling like someone is repeatedly stabbing you in the joints with a butcher knife. Or making sure your child takes the many daily medications. Or watching your child watch other children play in a pool they can't play in because it's too cold for their body.

When Tanya D. Davis' daughter Tatiana was born she found out that she had the trait for sickle cell. Her daughter is ...

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