Sickle Cell Anemia and raising awareness

[bouncemeup]

I have the sickle cell trait and thankfully I do not have any mild symptoms of the illness (I say that because I know some carriers who do). I wanted to share this short documentary that I watched on iPlayer in the hopes that others can share it too and maybe even donate blood. I find it so frustrating and sad how Black people in pain can be so easily dismissed and this can actually lead to them dying! It's crazy! I'm very grateful that I didn't have my children with someone who has the trait because I didn't even know I had it until I was pregnant! I think they started routinely testing babies soonn after I was born.

Here is the doc that I watched - www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p09v8wjz/newsbeat-documentaries-sickle-cell-fighting-for-care

A @bouncemeup I'll definitely give this a watch.

I would love to donate blood to help (I hear black African blood donations are amongst the lowest) especially given I'm O negative (universal doner) but unfortunately my protein levels are considered too low (though well within healthy range) to donate.

You may to be able to donate @wannabeamummysobadbut hopefully you can spread the word. Even though I'm a carrier I can still donate thankfully, and plan to, 6 months after I give birth to my baby is when I will be able to apparently. I want to try and make it a regular thing that I do.

Thanks for posting this @bouncemeup.

I was listening to the radio this morning, and heard that there had been a development in the treatment for sickle cell.

www.voice-online.co.uk/news/2021/10/05/breakthrough-in-sickle-cell-treatment/

Link to sicklecell society. For advice and information.

Please support them, every little bit helps.

www.sicklecellsociety.org/

Sorry @wannabeamummysobad that was supposed to say you may be unable to donate but

Thanks for the links @TheBlackDarner

I think they started routinely testing babies soonn after I was born.

They did.

I remember seeing a World In Action programme in the early 90s where a white reporter asked the head of the NHS in England at the time why there wasn't routine testing for blood conditions that routinely affected ethnic minority populations in England. The programme had footage showing how people in the Jewish community would do their own genetic testing before they looked for a spouse.

A couple of years after the programme was aired testing at birth was introduced all over England. I have nephews and nieces born in the 1990s who were found to be carriers of a couple of blood disorders.

I posted this thread a few months ago - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/black_mumsnetters/4212455-Evan-Smith

The terror that young man must have felt to ring 999 from his hospital bed. Red
Rest his soul

My DS has got SCT too. I was heartbroken when I found out. Bloody types are not discussed often enough in the UK.

@BunNcheese

My DS has got SCT too. I was heartbroken when I found out. Bloody types are not discussed often enough in the UK.

No need to be heart broken about having trait. He just needs to be aware of it and understand what physical activities he should avoid. He should also ensure that he tells any dentist/anaesthetist directly each time and not rely on them being told by other HCPs or reading his notes. Oh and he needs to ensure all his children are planned. (Which is a good thing.)

There is a parliamentary report out - www.sicklecellsociety.org/no-ones-listening/

Thanks @RedWingBoots