Keep 500 Sick Kids Alive in Crisis-Hit Communities

Dear partners,

For many sickle cell children in Northern Nigeria, blood transfusion is often the difference between life and death. Yet the process of getting safe blood is filled with obstacles that put their lives at risk. Families frequently struggle to find matching donors, hospitals face chronic shortages, and safe blood storage is unreliable in crisisaffected communities.

During severe anemia or acute crises, children may need blood urgently. But many parents spend hours — sometimes days — searching for donors. In rural areas, blood banks are either empty or too far away. Even when blood is found, the lack of proper screening and storage increases the risk of infections and complications. These delays and dangers contribute to preventable deaths among children who simply needed timely transfusion.

Your donations help us reduce these risks and protect vulnerable children. With your support, we can provide preventive care that reduces the need for transfusions, fund early diagnosis to catch complications before they become emergencies, and assist families with transportation and access to safe medical facilities. Every contribution strengthens our ability to keep children stable and out of lifethreatening situations.

A $25 donation helps us provide hydroxyurea and essential care that prevents severe anemia and reduces emergency transfusion needs. Your support gives families hope and helps ensure that no child loses their life because blood could not be found in time.

Thank you for standing with sickle cell children.

Dear partners,

Water plays a vital role in managing sickle cell disease in children. Hydration helps reduce pain episodes, prevents complications, and supports overall strength and wellbeing. Unfortunately, many sickle cell families in Northern Nigeria struggle with consistent access to clean drinking water, especially during hot seasons when dehydration becomes more common.

When children do not drink enough water, their blood becomes more concentrated, increasing the likelihood of painful crises. Even mild dehydration can trigger fatigue, weakness, and emergency hospital visits. Clean water also protects children from infections that can quickly destabilize their health.

The video from Norton Children’s highlights simple, practical steps caregivers can take to encourage hydration — but these steps depend on having safe water available in the first place.

Your support helps us provide hydration assistance and safewater access for sickle cell children. Donations help fund clean drinking water supplies, oral rehydration salts, and community education on staying hydrated during crisis seasons.

A $25 donation helps us keep a child hydrated, healthier, and better protected from avoidable complications.

Links:

• Why Staying Hydrated Matters for Children With Sickle Cell