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News media releases and alerts from SCDAA-MI press releases Advisories from SCDAA's Medical and Research Advisory Committee Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Medical and Research Advisory Committee COVID-19 Update “December 23, 2021 – SCDAA MARAC reminds the sickle cell community that the COVID-19 pandemic is having another increase in infections. New variants like omicron are emerging, as is common for RNA viruses, and vaccination rates need to consequently improve. Vaccinations can protect against severe illness. A new mediation might also help as early treatment for infected individuals.” Further details/recommendations on website: https://www.sicklecelldisease.org/2021/12/23/marac-advisory-statement-update-about-covid-19/ MARAC Advisory Statement on Post-secondary and Boarding School Education in the Age of COVID-19 (July 31, 2020) - SHOW THIS TO YOUR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR TO HELP THEM HELP YOU. MARAC Advisory Statement for SCD Patients Who are Teachers, Administrators, and Other Support Staff during School Reopening (July 30, 2020) - SHOW THIS TO YOUR EMPLOYER TO HELP THEM HELP YOU SCDAA MARAC Position on 2020 School Reopening (July 27, 2020) - SHOW THIS TO YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TO HELP THEM HELP YOU MARAC Advisory Statement Regarding SCD Patients during the time of “Reopening” the U.S. Economy (April 30, 2020) Sickle Cell Disease and COVID-19: Provider Advisory: An Outline to Decrease Burden and Minimize Morbidity (May 27, 2020) Health Alert for People with Sickle Cell Disease and their Caregivers (March 17, 2020) - SHOW THIS TO YOUR MEDICAL PROVIDERS TO HELP THEM HELP YOU A Health Note From Dr. Biree Andemariam , SCDAA Chief Medical Officer (March 13, 2020)

If you inherit only one sickle hemoglobin gene from a parent you will carry the sickle cell trait. While the trait was once thought to be innocuous, in recent years more has been learned about carriers. People with the trait are more likely to suffer from conditions such as urinary tract infections or blood in the urine. Even athletes with sickle cell trait are now advised to take special precautions. sickle cell trait Sickle Cell Trait Facts In some people the red blood cells can take on the shape of a farmer’s sickle. If you are born with this gene from one parent you have SICKLE CELL TRAIT. If you are born with this gene from both parents you have SICKLE CELL DISEASE. A person with sickle cell DISEASE has sickle cells in the blood stream which can cause health problems Such as pain, infection and anemia. A person with sickle cell TRAIT does not have sickle cells in the blood stream and does not have a disease. They're considered to be a carrier. If both parents have sickle cell TRAIT, each time a child is born there is a 25% (1 in 4) chance the child will have sickle cell DISEASE. This doesn't mean that if you have four children, one of them will have a chance of being born with sickle cell disease. It means that each child has a 25% chance of being born with the disease. There are two other fairly common traits that can also result in having a child with sickle cell disease: h emoglobin C trait and thalassemia trait. Since you do not get sick from any of these traits, you may have one of them and not know it. People of childbearing age should know if they have any of these traits so that they can make informed decisions regarding family planning. Know your trait status! View and download the full infographic here . SCDAA-MI offers free testing for sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease at its office: 18516 James Couzens Fwy, Detroit, MI 48235. Appointments and walk-ins are welcome. Call or contact us for more information. More info on the CDC's sickle cell trait site. Learn more about the NCAA and sickle cell trait

2019 Photo Gallery 2018 Photo Gallery 2021 photo galleries Awareness Campaign Launch This year for World Sickle Cell Day the Sickle Strong Adult Support Group hosted a lantern release to where we all could shine a light for individual living with sickle cell and to honor the memory of the beautiful ones we loss. Please enjoy these highlights! Thank You! (Is your photo/video missing from this collection? If so, email it to us.)

Career Opportunities at SCDAA-MI The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America – Michigan Chapter (SCDAA-MI), offers education, assistance, and advocacy to individuals living with and families affected by sickle cell disease. SCDAAMI provides counseling, support groups, referrals for financial and medical help, and connects students and job seekers with school, college and employment assistance, in addition to raising public awareness and sending children to summer camp each year. The agency also coordinates newborn screening for babies born in Michigan and conducts on-site blood testing to diagnose sickle cell trait and disease. All SCDAA-MI employees play a vital role in achieving our mission to improve the quality of life for people with sickle cell. Please click on the job availability below to join our team! Position Available: Patient Advocate & Community Health Worker - Detroit Office The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America - Michigan Chapter is an Equal Opportunity Employer. jobs/ careers

Donate and advocate for Sickle Cell Disease in one easy step by purchasing a Michigan Sickle Cell Awareness license plate. Part of the proceeds from every license plate sale and renewal goes directly to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America-Michigan Chapter (SCDAA-MI) for ongoing support to sickle cell warriors and their families. And we’re proud to be only the fourth state in the nation with this fundraising option, continuing the legacy of leadership and innovation that was started by Dr. Charles F. Whitten. This is an easy and powerful way to support awareness, research and advocacy for Michiganders living with sickle cell. AWARENESS LICENSE PLATE How much do the license plates cost? Like other special cause fundraising license plates in Michigan, our Sickle Cell Awareness license plate will cost $35, with $25 of the purchase fee going to SCDAA-MI. Even when your Sickle Cell Awareness plate is renewed, $10 will be donated to SCDAA-MI to benefit sickle cell warriors. Can I personalize the Sickle Cell Awareness plate? Yes you can! Check the Michigan Secretary of State website for more information. Can I get a license plate that’s not for my car? Yes you can! You can order a Sickle Cell Awareness collectible license plate that’s for display only. SCDAA-MI will still get a $25 donation for each plate you purchase. And there’s no limit on the number you can buy! How do I get a Sickle Cell Awareness license plate? You can order a license plate for your car to replace your current plate by mail or online. You can order collectible plates for display by mail. Visit the Michigan Secretary of State website for more information. Please join in raising awareness and funding for sickle cell disease. Drive with a Purpose Today!

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un/re-used elements Our 2020 Sickle Cell Matters Walk features a Warriors dance challenge and a salute to our Legacy Warriors (ages 50 and up). Warrior Stroll #SickleSlideChallenge Be a part of the Warrior Stroll! New this year, the Warrior Stroll features the #SickleSlide dance challenge to open our Walk Day festivities. Warriors of all ages and abilities are welcome to participate in parts that suit their preference. Watch and learn , perfect your style, and post your video using #SickleSlideChallenge. Salute to Legacy Warriors The 2020 Sickle Cell Matters Walk will also feature a tribute to our Legacy Warriors - individuals with sickle cell who'll be 50 years or older as of Dec. 31, 2020. Sign up to be recognized on our web site, in the day-of-event printed program (must be signed up by Sept. 1, 2020), and from the stage during remarks.

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America - Michigan Chapter Board of Directors Chairperson Kym L. Worthy Prosecutor, Wayne County District Jeffrey Sherbow, Esq, 1st Vice Chair, Attorney, Sherbow Law Office Ms. Cheryl L. Haskett, Treasurer Finance Director & Consultant, YDB, Inc. Kathleen Neumann, Secretary Retired Regional Director, Judson Center Sharada Sarnaik, M.D. , Assistant Secretary Retired Director, Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic Children's Hospital of Michigan Sonja L. Banks, CEO, International Dyslexia Association, Inc . Barbara Cushing, M.D. Retired Pediatric Hematologist, CHM LeWanda Gipson Deputy Director, Matrix Human Services Deborah Smith-Pollard, Ph.D. Associate Professor, U of M Dearborn Beverly Watkins Systems Administration, Toyota our board

client feedback Volunteer Photo Release Client Feedback Your voice matters! SCDAA-MI has been helping improve the lives of individuals with sickle cell for nearly half a century. How are we doing? We'd like to hear from you to help shape our work for the next 50 years. Use the form below to tell us how we've been able to help you, what we can do better, and to share your ideas for other services. Thanks for sharing your feedback!

sickle cell disease Living with sickle cell disease isn't easy, but proper knowledge about the condition will help patients live a longer, healthier life and guide trait carriers in making educated child-bearing decisions. Symptoms & Complications Sickle cell trait Top A history of sickle cell What Is Sickle Cell Disease? Sickle cell is an inherited blood disorder in which the red blood cells change their shape. It is a genetic abnormality and is caused by an abnormal type of hemoglobin, called hemoglobin S or sickle hemoglobin. Normal red blood cells have a disc-like shape, but in patients of sickle cell disease, they take on a crescent or sickle shape. Normal blood cells carry oxygen to the body, but altered cells cannot move easily through your blood vessels, which affects the oxygen supply. These altered cells cannot carry oxygen properly because when they release oxygen, it sticks together and changes the shape of the red blood cell. Prevalence of Sickle Cell Disease Sickle cell has existed for thousands of years and millions of people around the world suffer from the disease, but it's more common in people with an African bloodline. It is also quite common in people whose ancestors come from the Arabian Peninsula; Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy; Central America; Spanish-speaking regions in South America; and parts of the Caribbean. As a whole, it affects approximately 100,000 Americans and is the most common heritable blood disorder in the U.S. How Do You Inherit Sickle Cell Disease? Sickle cell disease is not contagious – you're born with it. A child may have this disease when he/she inherits one hemoglobin S gene from each parent. About 1 in every 365 African American babies are born with sickle cell each year and. While the disease primarily affects African Americans and people of color - including individuals of Hispanic and Middle Eastern descent, anyone can inherit sickle cell if the genetics are in place. There are also other sickle cell mutations, including Hemoglobin SC disease and hemoglobin Sβ thalassemia, the two most common. Sickle Cell Trait If you inherit only one sickle hemoglobin gene from a parent you will carry the sickle cell trait. While the trait was once thought to be innocuous, in recent years more has been learned about carriers. People with the trait are more likely to suffer from conditions such as urinary tract infections or blood in the urine. Even athletes with sickle cell trait are now advised to take special precautions with their health. Learn more about sickle cell trait sickle cell trait Artwork copyright Ebony.com . Explore More In-Depth Information American Society of Hematology ASH Centers for Disease Control CDC National Institutes of Health NIH Back to the top Sickle Cell Disease: Milestones in Research and Clinical Progress (REVISED September 2018) - download here History A History of Sickle Cell Download the PDF here Back to the top

We thank you for your service! Tonya Ashwood-Malone, Data Manager Congratulating Tonya Malone on 30 years of dedicated service to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Michigan Chapter, Inc. We appreciate you.