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Medical City Healthcare

North Texas Sickle Cell Patients Focus For Summer Blood Drives

Medical City Healthcare hospitals hold summer blood drives.

June 12, 2024
Blood drive to help sickle cell patients.

Dallas, TX— Medical City Healthcare’s Black Colleague Network is championing ten Medical City Healthcare hospital summer blood drives, in partnership with the American Red Cross North Texas Region. The efforts will help offset seasonal blood shortages while providing benefits to sickle cell patients by helping increase awareness and education about sickle cell disease and the need for blood donors of African or African American descent.

“As part of Medical City Healthcare’s mission to care for and improve human life, we encourage our communities to join us to help address our region’s blood shortage,” says Allen Harrison, president of Medical City Healthcare. 

Medical City Healthcare holds its drives in the summer to help bring attention to World Sickle Cell Awareness Day on June 19.

The blood drives are part of the Red Cross’ “Missing Types” campaign to encourage new blood donors to fill in the gaps of blood types that might be missing from the nation’s supply. Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic blood disease in the U.S., affecting more than 100,000 people – mostly of African or African American descent. Additionally, about 1,000 babies are born annually with sickle cell disease. These patients require regular blood transfusions throughout their lifetimes to help manage pain and long-term health. Blood donations from people of the same race or similar ethnicity and blood type are the most effective way to help patients experiencing a sickle cell crisis.

“One in three African American blood donors is a match for a patient with sickle cell disease,” says Linda Braddy, CEO of the American Red Cross North Texas Region. “A diverse blood supply is critical to improving health outcomes for all patients and we want to thank Medical City Healthcare for their compassionate contributions to this lifesaving cause.

The American Red Cross North Texas Region recently honored Medical City Healthcare with its Diamond Award for collecting 953 units of life-saving blood in 2023. The award is the highest honor given to organizations that collect more than 500 units annually.

Donors over 16 are welcome and encouraged to sign up for Red Cross blood drives at the locations and times below. All donors who self-identify as African American will be tested for sickle cell trait. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/Eligibility for specific donor eligibility requirements.

Published:
June 12, 2024