Sickle Cell Anemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. Red blood cells contain Hemoglobin. Hemoglobin gives blood its red color and carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. Normal red blood cells live about 120 days. Sickle cells only live for less than 60 days. The body cannot produce more red cells as fast as the sickle cells are being broken down. As a result, the body has fewer red cells and less hemoglobin than normal and this is called Anemia. When oxygen and sickle cells cannot flow freely through blood vessels, pain occurs. Sickle cells contain abnormal hemoglobin that causes the cells to have a sickle shape and that is where the name, Sickle Cell comes from. People with sickle cell anemia have pain that may occur at any time in any part of the body. The pain may be severe or mild. Other complications include, acute chest syndrome, pain in the joint and anywhere blood flows, and organ damage. You are born with sickle cell and you have it for life.

The purpose of this  petition is to raise awareness of this serious, but overlooked genetic blood disorder. Although September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, awareness needs to be raised all year.

We, the undersigned, call upon Mayor Bob Buckhorn to declare the 2nd Monday in September as Sickle Cell Awareness Day.  This declaration would raise sickle cell awareness and educate the community about sickle cell anemia, and also inform the public about possible treatment and pain management.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

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