Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a disease that affects hemoglobin, a protein in the red blood cell that carries oxygen throughout the body. In SCD, hemoglobin that is defective causes the red blood cells to become inflexible instead of flexible therefore forming sickle shaped cells which stick to vessel walls. (Normal blood cells are round.) Sickle cells cause a blockage that slows or stops the flow of blood. When this happens, oxygen can’t reach nearby tissues.

The lack of oxygen causes sudden attacks of severe pain called pain crises. Attacks usually occur without warning, and an individual going through a pain crises often times end up in the hospital for effective treatment. Hospitalizations usually last between three to six days and include the administration of IV fluids, oxygen, pain killers and most times, in adults, blood transfusions. The only know cure for SCD is bone marrow or stem cell transplant.