# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DLAZU2czspz
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72588672-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/42f5c2ec38.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-06-17T15:01:23.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

Donating blood isn’t just a routine for Reginald Johnston — it’s personal.
 
“One of the reasons why I’m glad I donate is because I have CEK negative blood that helps sickle cell patients,” Reginald said. “My cousin, who is gone now, had sickle cell. So, I know what it’s like to go through that trauma of seeing a relative hurt as a result of it.”
 
Reginald has been donating blood since 1990. Over the years, he’s learned that his blood carries a rare antigen profile, CEK-negative, which makes him a sickle cell fighter — the closest red blood cell match for patients living with sickle cell disease who require frequent blood transfusions.
 
That’s why donors like Reginald are so vital. His blood doesn’t just help, it heals. It brings much-needed relief to patients managing sickle cell disease, by helping them avoid adverse physical reactions from blood that is not closely matched.
 
Blood transfusions of a close blood type match are often critical for many patients with sickle cell disease. Frequent transfusions can make finding compatible blood types more difficult when patients develop an immune response against blood from donors that is not closely matched to the blood of the recipient. For patients with sickle cell disease, blood donors who are Black are almost three times more likely to be a match for the blood most commonly needed, compared to donors who are not Black or African American.

You could be a lifesaving match. Make an appointment to give blood by tapping on the link in our bio. #TeamUp4SickleCell

#DonateBlood #GiveBlood #DonateBloodSaveLives #GiveBloodSaveLives #SickleCellDisease #SickleCell #SickleCellAwareness

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 166
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- **Comments:** 6

## Tags

sicklecelldisease, sicklecellawareness, giveblood, donateblood, sicklecell, teamup4sicklecell, donatebloodsavelives, givebloodsavelives

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