DALLAS – Blood drives were held across North Texas Saturday in an effort to boost stockpiles of blood for surgeries and other needs. Spokespeople with the American Red Cross of North Texas say a sudden surge in schedules for elective surgeries combined with the pandemic’s curtailing of blood donations has stocks critically low. Calls for more blood donors to make appointments to give blood are out and likely to continue for some time.
Saturday’s events were held in conjunction with and honoring of Juneteenth and World Sickle Cell Awareness Day. American red Cross partnered with Butterflies Second Chances in Denton and Carol’s Promise in Arlington Saturday, in an effort to increase awareness about the importance of having a diverse blood supply to help patients with sickle cell disease
Sickle cell is a painful blood condition that in greatest part affects people of African descent. It distorts soft and round blood cells into hard, crescent-shaped cells, causing extreme pain. It’s estimated more than 100 thousand people have sickle cell disease; requiring regular blood transfussions to help manage the disease. Blood donations from individuals of the same ethnicty and blood type have a unique ability, officials say, to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.
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