February 2022 • Volume 2
SCDAA Celebrates Black History Month
Happy Black History Month! Sickle cell disease can be painful and hard to manage, but it doesn’t need to stop you from following your dreams. This month, we share inspirational stories of household names and notable figures who didn’t let sickle cell hold them back.
Meet Billy Garrett Jr., the first known person with sickle cell disease to play in the NBA. Billy grew up in Chicago, playing competitive basketball despite words of caution from his doctors. To keep playing, Garrett learned to balance hydration, rest and exertion through a process of trial and error that would occasionally lead to crises. His passion and dedication carried him through these obstacles and onto the court as a member of the DePaul Blue Demons, the New York Knicks and the Lakeland Magic. Off the court, we’re honored to have him on our team as one of our celebrity ambassadors. Watch the video to the right to hear his story and find out how he learned to play despite the pain.
SCDAA President and CEO Featured in The Baltimore Sun

Our newly named President and CEO Regina Hartfield shares her plans for leading SCDAA with The Baltimore Sun as part of a series profiling notable people making an impact.
Share the Love by Giving Blood 

This Valentine’s Day give sickle cell warriors a gift from the heart by donating blood. People with sickle cell disease routinely need blood transfusions. Your gift can mean the difference between severe pain and relief. Visit the link below to learn how to host a blood drive for sickle cell patients, find a blood drive or locate the closest donation center. 
Spring 2022 CHW Online Training Class 
March 14-May 16 | Mondays and Wednesdays | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST

Register for SCDAA’s Community Health Worker Training Program and receive a comprehensive training on the core competencies of community health workers with an additional concentration on sickle cell disease. Classes are taught using a live interactive webinar format. Scholarships are available!
Jack and Jill Hybrid 5K Race to Benefit SCDAA
March 5-12 | Virtual 
March 12 | 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. |
Fairfax Station, Virginia

Walk! Run! Bike! Race your way with a purpose. Join the Northern Virginia Chapter of Jack and Jill of America in a 5K race – in person or virtually – and raise funds to benefit SCDAA.
February is American Heart Month

People with sickle cell disease have an increased risk for heart problems such as high blood pressure and enlargement of the heart. It’s important to routinely monitor your blood pressure, and if you have high blood pressure, now is the time to make lifestyle changes to help control it.
The Hibiscus Study™ is inviting adults and adolescents 12 to 65 years old with a clinical diagnosis of sickle cell disease (SCD) to take part in a clinical research study. The primary purpose of the Hibiscus Study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an oral investigational medication to improve anemia and decrease annual pain crises in people with SCD. To learn more about study participation, and to see if you or your adolescent child may qualify, visit Hibiscusstudy.com/SCDAA.
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