# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CtomIFRMz9A
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/7560044-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/02936ebece.jpg
- **Posted:** 2023-06-18T14:01:01.000+00:00

## Caption

David Dandridge Jr. was born with sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder that can cause severe pain, tissue and organ damage, and even strokes. When he was 18 years old, it disrupted his dreams of joining the military and becoming a law enforcement officer.

While he endured multiple pain crises growing up, it wasn’t until he was 18 that he had his first blood transfusion to treat extreme pain and complications associated with sickle cell disease. Because of that blood transfusion, David persevered — he completed college, married his high school sweetheart and became a father. ❤️

“If I did not have the transfusion, we would not be having this conversation today. The blood transfusion saved my life.”

All three of his children were born with sickle cell disease, and in addition to keeping in mind his own need for compatible blood, he also considers their transfusion needs as well.

Patients with sickle cell disease can require as many as 100 units of blood each year. Frequent transfusions can cause patients to develop an immune response to blood that is not closely matched to theirs. Finding those compatible blood types from donors can be difficult. 

You could be a lifesaving match for a patient with sickle cell disease. Tap the link in our bio to schedule an appointment to give blood. 🩸 #TeamUp4SickleCell

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

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 239
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- **Comments:** 4

## Tags

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

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