New Clinic Works to Reduce Valley’s Lower Life Expectancy for Sickle Cell Patients
By Alexis DeSha, Graphic Designer
Published 4 years ago on
September 10, 2020
Share
Once a month Ragina Bell travels to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland for a blood transfusion that literally keeps her alive by replacing her faulty red blood cells with healthy ones. The trip requires an overnight stay and she must find someone to watch her two sons while she’s away.
“When I first get a transfusion I feel tingly like I had a lot of caffeine, and I have a lot of energy. I feel great. But as the month wears on I get more tired, and I sleep more,” said Bell, who was born with sickle cell anemia, a genetic disease that disproportionately strikes Blacks and Hispanics. “Even though I’m 32, Oakland children’s hospital is still taking care of me since they have one of the few adult sickle cell clinics.”
RELATED TOPICS:
Categories
Latest
Videos
Animals /
1 hour ago
Jack Black, a Small Dog With a Big Heart, Is Looking for His Forever Home
Food /
2 hours ago
What Italian Grandmothers Can Teach You About Healthy Eating
Opinion /
2 hours ago
CA Has Seen Many New Towns, but This Big Project Is Stalled
Crime /
14 hours ago
Fresno Man Sentenced to 29 Years for Sexually Assaulting Children and Dog
Sports /
14 hours ago
