Autumn,
It was a pleasure reading your post on this week’s discussion post. Sickle cell disease is a rare red
blood cell disorder passed down from parent to child. What is even more interesting about sickle cell
disease is that unlike other diseases it impacts about 100,000 people of African descent making up 90%
of the population with sickle cell in the U.S.1 Outside of those with African descent sickle cell disease also
affects those of Hispanic, South Asian, South European, and Middle Eastern ancestry.1 I was extremely
intrigued by how sickle cell disease impacts the body. It was very interesting to learn that individuals
with sickle cell have a special type of hemoglobin that doesn’t allow them to carry oxygen and as a
result, it clots forming a stiff rod and leading to the red blood cells becoming sickled.1 It is often referred
to as the blood cells becoming banana-shaped. Individuals with sickle cell are often in severe pain when
they are going through what is considered a sickle cell crisis. The pain according to research is caused by
the sickled cells getting stuck in blood vessels.1 The shape of the cells, their stiffness, and their stickiness
cause them not to easily maneuver around one another as they should in normal cell flow.1 Because of
this they attach and pile up and the organs and tissues in the body don’t get the oxygen required which
then leads to severe and in some instances debilitating pain.1 I could not imagine living with such as
disease that constantly keeps one in pain especially without knowing the root cause or having a cure for
the pain. Romans 8:18 states, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth
comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (ESV). I chose this scripture because it reminds me
that pain is not forever. I am hopeful that one day there will not only be advancements that will allow for
improvements in treatment but also an effective and efficient cure.
Reference:
1.Kato GJ, Piel FB, Reid CD, et al. Sickle cell disease (primer). Nature Reviews: Disease Primers.
2018;4(1):18010.
2.Romans 8: 18 (ESV).
