NEW YORK — September is Sickle Cell Consciousness Month, and Monday, two girls linked by the present of life lastly acquired to satisfy for the primary time.
There have been hugs and gratitude as Shatera Weaver met Christine van Benschoten, the lady who donated blood for her life-saving remedy.
“I’m extraordinarily and inexplicably grateful for you and everybody, and I implore different folks to hitch the ranks and get to donate blood,” Weaver instructed van Benschoten.
In response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, 100,000 Individuals, together with 10,000 New Yorkers, reside with sickle cell. The dysfunction impacts largely African Individuals.
It causes some pink blood cells to change into deformed right into a sickle form and die. These cells clog the blood move and may result in infections or strokes.
Sufferers like Weaver depend on blood transfusions to remain wholesome.
“It’s what offers me my power again. It revitalizes me after which I can get again to my life when that occurs, so it truly is fascinating to see the particular person, meet the particular person. That is by no means occurred earlier than, so it is a surreal second,” she stated.
Van Benschoten, 72, says she began donating blood commonly years in the past.
“It is an opportunity to point out that little previous 72-year-old girls can get out and donate,” she stated.
The second the 2 met was emotional for donor specialist Karlene Darby, who collected the life-saving donation.
“It is simply overwhelming and heart-rending,” she stated.
Van Benschoten desires everybody to know that donating is simple.
“The folks on the middle the place I donate are fantastic, and so they provide you with cookies,” she stated.
For extra data on easy methods to donate blood, go to nybc.org/donate-blood.
