St. Jude: Unleashing Hope and Healing for Kids with Sickle Cell Disease

Did you know that St. Jude Children's Research Hospital treats more than just cancer? It’s true and one of the other illnesses is sickle cell disease.

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St. Jude is home to one of the largest pediatric sickle cell programs in the country. From the time a child is born until they reach 18 years of age, St. Jude wraps them in a blanket of care. They're mission is to make sure no child fights this battle alone.

St. Jude has been at the fore front of sickle cell disease research since the hospital opened in 1962? They've are pioneers in this field! In fact, the hospital's first research grant was for studying sickle cell disease. In 1983, St. Jude achieved a major milestone when they cured a patient of sickle cell anemia with a stem cell/bone marrow transplant.

The good news is that St. Jude doesn't stop there. They're always looking for better treatments for sickle cell disease. That's why they have clinical trials and studies. Right now, they're looking for African American volunteers to help in two important studies.

Volunteers Needed For Sickle Cell Disease

The microSCpi Study wants to find out how bacteria in the stomach and intestines affect sickle cell disease. They are looking for volunteers of any age who live or work in the Memphis area. You can be a part of this study whether or not you have sickle cell disease.

The SPRINTS Study, is looking at the relationship between sickle cell anemia and exercise. Kids between the ages of 10 and 21 can participate, even if they don't have sickle cell anemia themselves. They can help figure out the safe levels of physical activity for kids with sickle cell disease.

One of the things that sets St. Jude apart is their successful transitions. Teens with sickle cell disease face challenges when going from pediatric to adult care. St. Jude's STARR Program (Success through Academics, Resources, and Research) helps with school-related problems and help them in their transition toward adulthood.

St. Jude also has a program called STEP (The Sickle Cell Transition E-Learning Program), that helps teens with videos that cover everything from making appointments to understanding health insurance.

St. Jude knows the importance of helping these young adults as they journey into adult medical care.