Keep 500 Sick Kids Alive in Crisis-Hit Communities

Hello

I wanted to thank you for your support for our project thus far. In the same vein, I like to highlight one over-looked limitation faced by children suffering from sickle cell disease. 

Children should be able to explore their hobbies freely whether it involves strenous actvities such as running, soccer, hiking, dancing etc. But for many children living with sickle cell disease, this is impossible. 

Sickle cell disease affects the body in ways that limit movement, energy, and stamina. Frequent pain crises, repeated infections, and chronic fatigue mean many children must choose hobbies that keep them indoors and require little physical effort.

By funding essential care including hydroxyurea, enhanced immunization, wound care, and strokeprevention screening , you're helping us to stabilize children’s health so they can participate more fully in everyday life.

A $25 donation provides a month of hydroxyurea for one child, helping reduce pain episodes and giving them the strength to engage in normal childhood activities. 

Thank you once again for helping our sickle cell kids.

Dear friends,

Today, I wanted to share with you one of the most devastating but least talked about complication of sickle cell disease. 

Children living with sickle cell disease face many dangers, but one of the most devastating is stroke. Without preventive care, about 1 in 9 children with sickle cell anemia (HbSS) will suffer an overt ischemic stroke before adulthood, with the peak incidence between ages 2 and 10. For children between 2 and 18 years, this risk remains significantly higher than in the general population.

The reason stroke risk is high in children with sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease causes red blood cells to become rigid and sickleshaped. These cells can block major brain arteries, reducing or stopping blood flow and triggering stroke. Elevated bloodflow velocities in these arteries—measured by Transcranial Doppler (TCD) are a strong, validated predictor of stroke risk in children with sickle cell anemia.

However most families struggling to feed let alone afford preventive care such as Transcranial Doppler screen. 

Your donation will help us bring Transcranial Doppler screening closer to the children who need it most. With your support, we can cover the cost of biannual TCD scans at the nearest tertiary hospital, ensuring that children at high risk are identified early and protected from preventable strokes.

Thank you

Links:

• Sickle cell disease: transcranial doppler (TCD)