# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DKfx1tTBIR2
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72588690-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/951b1b71ff.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-06-04T23:00:00.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

Maurice Dortch is a man of many roles — educator, mentor, drummer, roller skater and proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. But behind his vibrant life is a lifelong battle with sickle cell disease, a condition that has tested his strength in ways most can’t imagine.

Maurice was just 2 years old when his mother learned he had sickle cell disease. Since then, he’s faced painful realities of the condition, from pulmonary complications to avascular necrosis that required hip surgery at an early age.

Growing up, Maurice had to learn how to listen to his body. ”Being aware of when you’re tired can make or break a sickle cell pain crisis,” he said. “There have been plenty of times when I was just being a kid running around unaware of what I was doing to my body, and in a split second, it’s hard to breathe. Then, boom, I’m being rushed to the hospital.”

His first blood transfusion came at age 12. But it was a crisis in his early 30s that nearly took his life.

“I remember having a pain crisis and the medicine wouldn’t help,” Maurice said. “When I got to the ER, I passed out — I was experiencing acute chest syndrome.”

Maurice was admitted to the ICU and received a blood transfusion. He was placed on life support, and his mother was faced with the decision of whether to pull the plug.

“God had a different plan,” Maurice said. “When my mom went home, my brother, Richard, came to visit me. I can’t remember what my brother was saying at the time, but I opened my eyes and sat straight up.”

That blood transfusion — one of five he’s received — helped save his life.

“After having a blood transfusion, I really feel like a new person,” Maurice said. “Blood transfusions have helped keep me from experiencing low energy.”

Maurice finds strength and healing in roller skating, which he taught himself when he was 13 years old.

“Having mobility, balance, fun — it’s all there,” Maurice said. “With roller skating, you have to use your whole body. It’s helped keep me from getting stiff joints. When I roller skate, my body is getting the circulation that it needs to keep the blood flowing right. This causes less sickle cell pain crises for me.” #TeamUp4SickleCell

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## Tags

teamup4sicklecell

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