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Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder. It is marked by flawed hemoglobin. That's the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the tissues of the body. So, sickle cell disease interferes with the delivery of oxygen to the tissues.

In someone who has SCD, the hemoglobin is abnormal, which causes the red blood cells to become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a “sickle.” The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells.

The blocked blood flow through the body can lead to serious problems, including stroke, eye problems, infections, and episodes of pain called pain crises. Sickle cell disease is a lifelong illness.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. In SCD, the red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a “sickle.” People with SCD can live full lives and enjoy most of the activities that other people do.

Sickled cells can block blood flow in blood vessels that provide blood to bones in our body. When the bone does not get enough oxygen, the bone tissue can die, a complication known as avascular necrosis (AVN). When there is not enough blood reaching the bone, the joint can narrow and the bone can collapse.

Sickle cell disease is inherited , meaning that it runs in families. People who have sickle cell anemia inherit two faulty hemoglobin genes - hemoglobin S - from each parent.

HbSS. People who have this form of SCD inherit two genes, one from each parent, that code for hemoglobin “S.” Hemoglobin S is an abnormal form of hemoglobin that causes the red cells to become rigid, and sickle shaped. This is commonly called sickle cell anemia and is usually the most severe form of the disease.

There are different forms of sickle cell disease. They include Hb SS, Hb SC, Hb S beta-thalassemia, etc. All of these hemoglobin types cause a vaso-occlusive crisis. HbSS is the most common and severe type.

Red blood cells are usually round and flexible, so they move easily through blood vessels. In sickle cell anemia, some red blood cells are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These sickle cells also become rigid and sticky, which can slow or block blood flow. There's no cure for most people with sickle cell anemia.

The hemoglobin associated with sickle cell anemia causes red blood cells to become rigid, sticky and misshapen. For a child to be affected, both mother and father must carry one copy of the sickle cell gene - also known as sickle cell trait - and pass both copies of the altered form to the child.

The most common are: Sickle Cell Anemia (SS), Sickle Hemoglobin-C Disease (SC), Sickle Beta-Plus Thalassemia and Sickle Beta-Zero Thalassemia. Sickle Cell Anemia (SS): When a child inherits one substitution beta globin genes (the sickle cell gene) from each parents, the child has Sickle Cell Anemia (SS).