# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C3TiralMAI2
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72590909-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/bc9fb663f4.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-02-13T23:00:47.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

Kharlybia Roane was born with sickle cell disease and received her first blood transfusion when she was 5 years old. She and her family are all too familiar with the inside of a hospital.
 
Now 28 years old, Kharlybia has received hundreds of blood transfusions to relieve the excruciating pain she experiences as a result of sickle cell disease. Her red blood cells have a distorted shape, causing the blockage of vessels and preventing oxygen from being carried to where it needs to go. The result: severe pain that courses through the body.
 
Her last blood transfusion was just three weeks ago, and she is grateful for those who selflessly donate blood for patients in need like her.
 
“After I receive a blood transfusion, my energy is much better, but the pain can still be there,” Kharlybia said. “As I have gotten older, it has gotten a lot more to deal with, but I have not let it impact me in a negative way. I have learned to look out for my triggers.”
 
You could be a lifesaving match for a patient with sickle cell disease and provide the relief they need from pain and complications associated with the disease. Make a difference in someone’s life by scheduling an appointment to give blood — tap on the link in our bio to get started. #TeamUp4SickleCell

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

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 866
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- **Comments:** 17

## Tags

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

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