SICKLE CELL DISEASE CAN
AFFECT ANY RACE
According
to her, every time she looks up information on the Internet, look at brochures,
books and etc this disease always shows an African American person. She understands
that this disease is most common among the race but she wants people and
society to know that this disease CAN AFFECT ANY RACE! Her two children both
with Sickle Cell Disease, Sickle Cell Disease can affect ANY race! Her name is
Vikki and her husband and she is a Caucasian couple with 2 beautiful boys that
have from Sickle Beta Thalesemia Plus. She is of Italian decent and has a
thalesemia trait. When she was pregnant she was tested and her doctor wanted to
test her husband for it as well. She received a call several days later that he
has a sickle trait. She was like "No way! Her husband has blonde hair and
blue eyes." They thought at the time that this disease was only a black disease.
They now have 2 sons that have sickle beta thalesemia plus, one with blonde
hair and blue eyes. They are expecting their third child and will not know
until after she is born if she also has the disease. They were told that this
disease is a more mild form of Sickle Cell and can but usually does not
experience the same problems that someone with SCD does.
Unfortunately
their oldest, 4 years old, has experienced severe crisis in his back and legs.
They have spent time in the hospital due to the crisis and fevers. Their
youngest, 2 ½ has only had his hands swell with mild pain. She think that was
what the doctors tried to prepare them for, not what their oldest experiences.
When she was watching her children run and play it is always in the back of her
mind if it will cause a crisis for him. Is he over doing it? Is he going to
dehydrate? Hydration is the biggest factor for us and is what saves us at
times. Although they have sickle beta thal plus, they still live with this
disease EVERYDAY! Since she began writing this letter
Her
youngest came down with a virus with symptoms of a fever only. Had him checked out
but the next day he was very irritable and pale. She called the doctor at about
4:45 when he woke from a nap very lethargic, she noticed him falling over a couple
of times. She brought him in to the Children’s Hospital as advised by his
doctor and his hemoglobin was down to 4. His normal is about 9.2-9.5. They
experienced their first blood transfusion and he has been tested and confirmed
to have been affected with the Parvovirus which she was not aware of. Her next
son became sick on Dec 8 for only 2 days but on the 12th woke with stomach pain
and slight paleness. None of this was uncommon for him after being sick. At
night she gave him a bit of Tylenol with codeine for the pain and he woke at
10:15 acting very "strange". He punched at his stomach and was not
able to stand. She paged the doctor but during the day she spoke to the Nurse
to let her know about him and told her he was playing but was just a bit tired
with mild pain to his stomach. He said to bring him into the ER for a blood
test. She left immediately and thank God she did. By the time she got to the ER
his lips were blue! He went into resripitory arrest and he had splenic
sequestration. His hemoglobin dropped down to 1.8! Yes….1.8!!! Doctor said he
has NEVER seen that and the next few hours for him were critical. Here her son
is in PICU on a ventilator and her husband and her are told is very critical.
WHY!! Because of a virus—Parvovirus. Her son was in PICU for 18 hours and moved
to the Oncology room for 2 ½ more days. He amazed his doctor and he told her
along with every
Nurse that was there that he is their
Miracle baby!!! Her children are affected by this blood disorder and they
almost lost both of their children from just a childhood virus! THIS DISEASE
DOES AFFECT ANY RACE! Today though they have both fully recovered and doing
very well. She encourages everyone to find out all they can about this disease
(SC). She heard of the Parvovirus but did NOT know that a simple childhood
virus could have taken their children from them!
Again, she wants people to see other faces
of people who suffer from this disease and to let everyone know it is NOT only
a black disease. It can and it does affect ANY Race!
