# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DZa3D-4DQbh
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72587257-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/abb63e94b7.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-06-10T21:01:03.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

Seven-year-old Jiraiya is full of energy and determination. She loves to stay active and embraces every opportunity to simply be a kid, something that hasn’t always come easy while living with sickle cell disease.

Recently, she experienced a moment many only dream of — stepping onto the field at Busch Stadium to throw out the first pitch at a Cardinals game.

“She does like to participate in sports,” said Jiraiya’s mother, Kala. “We're looking to put her in gymnastics. She also says she wants to play basketball. She wants to play soccer. She loves to swim. She goes to the trampoline. Jiraiya is your everyday child, but with a health concern.”

Sickle cell disease can turn everyday activities into risks and bring sudden, severe pain. But Jiraiya’s family is determined to make sure that doesn’t stand in the way of her life.

Her parents have helped organize community blood drives, bringing people together with a shared purpose — to donate in Jiraiya’s honor and support patients in need. For people living with sickle cell disease, blood transfusions can help manage symptoms, prevent complications, and provide strength during painful crises.

Throwing the first pitch wasn’t just a special moment, it was a celebration of resilience and a reminder of a little girl who refuses to let sickle cell disease define her.

“Jiraiya is full of life, loves to move around, loves to stay active,” Kala said. “I don't minimize her to do anything because at the end of the day, she's a kid. You still want to let her experience life.”

You could be a lifesaving match for a patient with sickle cell disease — and help make more moments like Jiraiya’s possible. 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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