SCDAM: Sickle Cell Advocacy: Let's Do this

SCDAM stands for the Sickle Cell Disease Advocates of Minnesota. This is our website and we are grateful that you have stopped by. Read on as we tell you what we do, what we stand for and what your role is in the matter.

Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disorder that results in a chronic disease, affecting people throughout their life.  In the United States, most patients with Sickle Cell Disease are of African, Hispanic or Mediterranean descent. While Sickle Cell Disease is most common in these populations, people of all ethnic backgrounds can have Sickle Cell Disease.

It is estimated that more than 70,000 Americans have sickle cell disease and more than two million Americans have sickle cell trait, meaning they carry one copy of the gene for the disease.  Each year, about 2,000 infants are diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease by neonatal screening programs across the United States. Approximately 15 babies with Sickle Cell Disease are born each year in Minnesota. About 1 in 500 African American babies, and 1 in 1,000 to 1,400 Hispanic babies are diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease each year in the United States.

Many people living with Sickle Cell Disease are fully capable of leading productive lives.  Like any person without this condition, they set and achieve many academic, professional and personal goals.  However, throughout their lives they experience challenges including episodes of severe pain known as “crisis”, chronic pain, physical complications, frequent hospitalization, health provider inexperience, as well as social challenges like housing and employment.  Many people living with Sickle Cell Disease, as well as their families, are in need of support, understanding and advocacy.

The Sickle Cell Disease Advocates of Minnesota – SCDAM exists to improve the quality of life for people living with Sickle Cell Disease by identifying resources, providing support and creating awareness. We aim  to become a respected full-service agency with sufficient resources to support the needs of people and their families living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and to achieve a society that is aware of SCD. These aims can be acieved through dedication and a consistent focus on making and achieving little milestones that will eventually culminate in the big picture that this organization seeks.

We are a registered non-profit (aka 501(c)) and donations to this organization is tax deductible. Please donate to help us effectively carry out our yearly calendar of events. Donate here

Other ways inh which you can help include becoming an advocate here, or volunteering to help us in any of our numerous tasks including fundraising, website administration, communication facilitation and event organization. You can also help us by reading the educative material found on this website and telling one person about us. We would also love you to link to us and register to attend one of our numerous events throughout the year. We also welcome comments and contribution of articles and personal life experiences. If you want to have a regular column where you write about sickle cell disease and related material, this is the right place.

Take a few moments to explore this site and add it to your bookmark! See you inside.

More on Sickle Cell research, Click here!