# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C3iPXeBNqbs
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72590851-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/eedd184dcb.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-02-19T16:00:38.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

Managing a life with sickle cell disease is the only life Dima Hendricks has ever known. Dima was born with the genetic blood disorder at a time when newborn screening wasn’t mandated, and because of this, she went undiagnosed until she was 6 months old.

The complications and excruciating pain that Dima experiences aren’t always detectable by others. She’s had a stroke, acute chest syndrome, a gall bladder removal, and has been in the ICU more than 100 times.

The mental toll is just as painful.

“Imagine trying to be normal and trying to act normal, but you feel like a bus is constantly hitting you, or you’re constantly being stabbed,” Dima said. “It does something to your psyche.

“I’ve given birth twice. The first time, I gave birth naturally, and the second time, I had a C-section. I’d rather go through both experiences before going through a full-on vaso-occlusive crisis.”

She also knows firsthand the importance of blood transfusions to help relieve the pain and prevent further life-threatening complications — she has received more than 140 of them herself. 

“After a blood transfusion, I usually feel like a new woman,” Dima said. “I could probably go run a marathon. I feel productive, things get done — I feel on top of the world."

Dima’s personal experiences drive her passion for sickle cell advocacy through her platform as the 2024 International Mrs. New England and as the founder of ThroughThePainOrg, a non-profit dedicated to offering supportive services to people living with sickle cell disease and their families.

"For anyone who has ever donated blood, thank you, thank you, thank you," she said. "Because of the generous donations, my sons have their mom, my husband has his wife, and we are eternally grateful that we can actually do things as a family and enjoy one another.” #TeamUp4SickleCell

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

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## Tags

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

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