In the African American community, we all know someone who has been affected by the terrible and painful sickle cell disease. This blood issue, which can be passed down through families, is a condition that many have been born with, and spend most of their lifetime fighting. This disease is the most common inherited blood disease according to WEBMD. In a normal body, red blood cells glide easily though your bloodstream. However, with sickle cell, your red blood cells are shaped like a sickle (C-shaped farm tool), which causes cells to clump together. This can can be painful, it can cause anemia, and other symptoms. This week we received some great news in regards to today’s modern medicine. The world has been blessed with researchers who have been working on a cure for the disease, and an 8-year-old boy in Orlando has been labeled a new hero for helping to cure his sister and brother from this disease.
His name Stefan Aihe’s and this 8-year old is responsible for saving this lives of his 22 year old brother Kingsley, and 13 year old sister, Vanessa. The two older siblings have spent their lives struggling with this disease and the only cure is found in patients agreeing to have a bone-marrow transplant. The problem surfaces because finding a perfect match for bone marrow in patients is often a struggle. After deciding to have the transplant, the family was excited to find out their 8-year-old little brother was a match! Vanessa was cured when Stefan gave her a transplant some years ago, and Kingsley is now cured after Stefan gave him a transplant this past November. Dr. David Shook explained that this case is rare, “It’s incredibly rare to have the same donor give to two different siblings. You know, to match is uncommon, but it’s not impossible,” he expressed to a news outlet.
The family, sickle cell advocates, and various medical companies are now pushing for more people to become donors. African Americans are disproportionately affected by this disease, and 1 in 13 black babies are born with the sickle cell trait. The family is hoping that little Stefan Aihe’s bravery will inspire others to help in the fight against sickle cell disease.
Source: WebMD, Essence
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