YES. But before someone can donate, a doctor first needs to check to make sure the donor is healthy. People with sickle cell trait can be BMT donors. There are some minor risks with donating bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells.

Stem cell or bone marrow transplants are the only cure for sickle cell disease, but they're not done very often because of the significant risks involved. Stem cells are special cells produced by bone marrow, a spongy tissue found in the centre of some bones.

Allogeneic transplant is used for SCD. This type of transplant uses healthy cells donated by someone else to replace the cells that make faulty hemoglobin. These healthy cells can come from a family member, unrelated donor or umbilical cord blood.

They accept donors between the ages of 18 and 60. But because bone marrow transplant is most successful with younger donors, people ages 18 to 44 are preferred. Donors must be in excellent health. Certain diseases, medications, treatments and weight limits can exclude you from becoming a donor.

A bone marrow transplant is currently the only cure for some patients who have sickle cell disease. After early diagnosis, your healthcare provider may recommend medicines or transfusions to manage complications, including chronic pain.

The new treatment, crizanlizumab, will reduce chronic pain, trips to A&E and will dramatically improve patients' quality of life.

Where do healthcare providers find bone marrow donors?

1. Contacting the NMDP online or through a donor center.
2. You can choose to go to a donor center or request a mail-in kit.
3. The NMDP will contact you if your HLA type is a close match to someone who needs healthy bone marrow.

Individuals with sickle cell trait are eligible to donate blood. Donations from individuals without the trait may be able to help a patient facing a sickle cell crisis.

The best possible match is a healthy donor who has human leukocyte antigens (HLA) that are a close match to the person needing the bone marrow transplant. HLA are blood proteins.

Doctors use needles to withdraw liquid marrow (where the body's blood-forming cells are made) from both sides of the back of your pelvic bone. You will be given anesthesia and feel no pain during the donation. After donation, your liquid marrow is transported to the patient's location for transplant.

1984 - Stem cell transplant first used to treat sickle cell. The first stem cell transplant for sickle cell is performed, representing the first curative therapy for the disease.

Penicillin. Penicillin, in addition to immunizations, is an important part of infection prevention in sickle cell disease. Antibiotic prophylaxis (taking medication every day even when feeling well) with penicillin prevents life-threatening bacterial infections in young children with sickle cell disease.