I approach each day with a smile and most people say I look nothing like what sickle cell has put me through. I’ve had blood clots in my lungs and limbs, minor heart surgery and my gallbladder removed. I come down with pneumonia as frequently as some catch the flu. But each day I get to create new memories with my son which makes it worth it. And oddly enough, I owe many of my good days to complete strangers who give blood.

I need weekly blood transfusions to stay healthy. And the most helpful units come from people who look like me. If blood is not readily available to treat me, I wait in pain until it arrives and as a result, spend more time away from my son than necessary. Without it I could die.

I do my best to advocate for patients with sickle cell disease. While this disease impacts a disproportionate number of African Americans, many people in our community still don’t know much about it or how they can help patients. One of the easiest ways to help is to give blood. I am asking the Black community to please consider becoming a lifesaving ally for sickle cell patients today by signing up to donate blood through the American Red Cross. Every time you give, more people like me have a chance to fight another day.

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DayShana Jones is a licensed cosmetologist who lives in Portsmouth, Virginia, and works at Salon 10. She is mom to three-year-old Tristan and a fierce advocate within the sickle cell community. She attended the National Sickle Cell Convention in 2018 and 2019 and speaks at health fairs and hosts events in her community.

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