# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CtwUgAcM_jS
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/7621192-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/e1f7403e33.jpg
- **Posted:** 2023-06-21T14:00:56.000+00:00

## Caption

Mark Burrow is a seemingly healthy and strong 19-year-old with an endless love for baseball. But, unknown to the eye, Mark battles an often invisible genetic blood disorder each and every day — sickle cell disease.

Since he was 9 months old, he has dealt with pain coursing through his body, but it hasn’t stopped him from picking up baseball at 5 years old, playing the sport in college and coaching a youth baseball team. Unstoppable, is how Mark Burrow’s mother would describe him. 💪🏾

“When Mark was a baby, there was nothing they could do for him but give him medicine to relieve his pain,” his mom Tywana recalled. “His first transfusion came when he was 7 years old — we thought we might lose him then.”
 
Sickle cell disease distorts red blood cells and prevents them from flowing smoothly and carrying oxygen to the rest of the body. Blood transfusions offer much-needed relief from severe pain and complications of the disease.
 
Because of his perseverance and inspiring journey, Mark was selected to throw the first pitch at a recent St. Louis Cardinals game. ⚾️
 
“Sickle cell really drains me; it affects my blood flow and energy levels, and my movement,” Mark explained. “I can’t train as hard as normal people do, but that hasn’t stopped me from playing baseball my whole life. And it won’t.”
 
You could be a lifesaving match for a patient with sickle cell disease and be a reason why they don't stop pursuing their passions. Make a difference by scheduling an appointment to give blood — tap the link in our bio to get started. #TeamUp4SickleCell

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

## Stats

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- **Likes:** 1,239
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## Tags

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

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