# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DcykBrhDKl1
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70562521-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/2704d3f849.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-02T15:30:40.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

Shenika Richardson has never known life without sickle cell disease.

“I was born with sickle cell disease at birth, so all my life I've known that I've had the disease,” she said.

Now 48 years old, Shenika estimates she has received nearly 100 blood transfusions. They have helped her through childhood emergencies, major surgeries and the ongoing challenges of living with a condition that affects nearly every aspect of her life.

“In my lifetime, I've had many crises, many surgeries,” Shenika said. “As a child, the doctors didn't know that I would make it to 2 years old. They thought that I might die because I had acute chest syndrome."

Over the years, she has experienced scoliosis that required metal rods in her back, pregnancy loss and, most recently, an enlarged heart. But she remains focused on the life she's built as a wife, mother and cherished member of her community.

“There are a lot of challenging days, stressful days,” Shenika said. “We're always constantly in the healthcare system, but we are able to live life as best we can.”

That life has been made possible, in part, by blood donors.

“I've had many transfusions over my lifetime,” she said. “Currently, I receive two units every three weeks to prevent strokes.”

Through every challenge, Shenika has found strength in her faith and in knowing that strangers care enough to donate blood.

“By the grace of God, He gives me life and strength every day,” she said. “But also the community, just knowing that there are people behind me who care, and people who care enough to donate blood so that I can keep living the life that I love.

“I am eternally grateful for those people who have donated blood, and they've never met me, but they are the reason why I'm here and I can continue to live the life that I love.”

For patients living with sickle cell disease, blood transfusions can help prevent complications and provide the strength to keep moving forward. Help ensure patients like Shenika receive the blood they need when they need it most. Make a difference by scheduling an appointment to give blood through the link in our bio.

#DonateBlood #GiveBlood #SickleCell #SickleCellAwareness #SickleCellWarrior

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## Tags

sicklecellwarrior, sicklecellawareness, giveblood, donateblood, sicklecell

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