The Lifeline of Blood Donations
As SCWWI focuses on education and outreach, Versiti Blood Centers work tirelessly to support the sickle cell community through life-saving blood donations.
“In less than 30 minutes, you could save up to three lives,” said Jasmine Johnson, Vice President of Operations at Versiti. “Knowing that when I get in a donor bed, I am doing something that only I can do to help another human being, knowing it’s someone's best friend or family member and their loved one who I am helping support and live longer, it’s definitely rewarding.”
Blood transfusions are a common treatment option for SCD patients, improving blood flow and oxygen delivery to vital organs. Depending on individual needs, transfusions can be a single treatment or part of a chronic care plan requiring multiple units of blood each month.
A single sickle cell patient may need between eight to ten units per transfusion and up to 100 units annually, making regular blood donations essential. Versiti encourages community members, especially in neighborhoods near their donation centers, to contribute regularly.
“Partnering with organizations like Versiti and SCWWI allows us to expand our reach and impact,” said Commissioner Totoraitis. “Their work directly addresses the need for blood in sickle cell care, a critical component of managing the disease.”
At Versiti, their goal is to encourage and promote people to make routine blood donations, particularly in neighborhoods like the ones Versiti blood donation centers are located, such as the center on Martin Luther King Blvd, which hugs the borders of Harambe, Halyard, and Brewers Hill.
“When you invest in building a brick and mortar donor center in a community that hasn't historically been avid blood donors, there's an opportunity for education, building trust and report, but also hopefully increasing the blood collection,” Johnson said. “When comparing the number of donations from the 53212 zip code to the need for sickle cell transfusions in that area, there are tremendous gaps.
A Community in Crisis: Confronting Racial Disparities in Sickle Cell Care 
Sickle cell advocates are also raising awareness about the racial disparities that patients face, particularly during a pain crisis.
A sickle cell pain crisis occurs when sickle-shaped red blood cells block blood flow, causing severe, sometimes life-threatening pain that can last for days or weeks. If not treated early and accurately, a sickle cell pain crisis could be fatal.
“It’s been described to me like somebody is pushing hot nails through your veins,” Henry said.
For many, accessing appropriate, quality care during these crises is a challenge that is compounded by racial biases within the healthcare system.
In the U.S., more than 90% of the people with SCD are Black, and an estimated 3-9% are Hispanic or Latino, which leads to biases and stereotypical assumptions. Studies reveal that Black patients can experience significantly longer wait times in the Emergency Department (ED) compared to white patients1 and are less likely to receive necessary pain medication, underscoring the need for better education among healthcare providers.2
“There are adults who come into the emergency room, say they’re in crisis, and they’re waiting for hours because there are healthcare professionals who don’t even know what a sickle cell crisis is,” Henry said. “They’re not bleeding out or have any obvious trauma, so they’re asked to go sit down.”
“We ask our families to dress nicely, speak kindly, and have patience to be taken seriously in the ER, but if you have that kind of pain in your body, how do you do that? Why do they need to do that to receive care,” said Henry.