A New Westminster woman is hoping to raise awareness about sickle cell anemia and to reach out to other families that may be dealing with the blood disorder.
Adobie Mcallister's nine-year-old daughter Odobie has sickle cell anemia, a blood disorder that is passed down through families and is caused by an abnormal type of hemoglobin inside the red blood cells that carry oxygen.
"We came to Canada Nov. 26, 2004," she said. "She was diagnosed the next day. We went straight from the plane to the hospital."
Mcallister is from Guyana, South America, but came to Canada via Venezuela, where she gave birth to her daughter. En route to Canada, seven-month-old Odobie suddenly became sick and was diagnosed a day later with sickle cell anemia.
"I want to reach out to other sickle cell families," she said. "There is a large community of Africans we want to reach out to. It's very common in African communities. Some Asians get it. It's mainly a trait in black people."
According to the Provincial Health Services Authority, sickle cell anemia affects males and females, and is common among people and families of African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, Asian, Mediterranean, Indian and Central and South American descent.
"Babies with sickle cell disease c make a different kind of hemoglobin. This hemoglobin causes the red blood cells to change their shape (they look like a banana or a sickle) and become hard and sticky. The hard, sticky sickle red blood cells have trouble moving through small blood vessels and may block the blood supply and cause pain in that part of the body. They also cause a low blood count that makes the person tired and short of breath," states the B.C. Children's Hospital website. "Screening means that babies with sickle cell disease can receive early treatment, including immunizations and antibiotics, which will help prevent serious illness and allow the child to live a healthier life. One or two babies are found to have sickle cell disease each year in B.C."
Mcallister, who now volunteers at B.C. Children's Hospital as the advocate for sickle cell anemia kids, wants to raise awareness to African communities and health officials about sickle cell anemia. She's also encouraging people to get tested for the blood disorder.
B.C. Children's Hospital's website states that serious health problems can be prevented through medicines and special treatments.
Because people suffering from sickle cell anemia often need blood transfusions, Mcallister is also encouraging everyone to donate blood.
"She's only had one so far - that's good," she said about her daughter. "Most people have to do it very often."
McAllister said many people with sickle cell anemia have painful episodes called crises that may require them to be hospitalized. She said she's fortunate that it's been a year since her daughter has been hospitalized, noting there have been years when she has gone into the hospital five or six times.
"So far she is doing really good," she said. "Last year she only had a mild infection."
Fatigue and shortness of breath are some of the symptoms of sickle cell anemia. In severe cases, children may have abdominal pain, poor eyesight or blindness, and strokes.
Odobie now attends John Robson Elementary School, after having attended a school for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. She is deaf in one ear and hearing impaired in the other.
"That is related to the sickle cell," Mcallister said. "There can be a lot of challenges."
Mcallister said the staff at John Robson have helped her daughter adapt to her new school and helped inform classmates about her health issues.
"She loves school," she said. "She was being monitored to see how she was doing. They said so far she is doing OK."
Mcallister recently held a fundraiser to help children being treated for sickle cell anemia at B.C. Children's Hospital. In addition to her job as a resident attendant at a hospital in Vancouver, she works at a local nightclub.
"I raised $526.18," she said of tips collected for the cause. "It's for sending sickle cell kids to summer camp - Zajac Ranch."
McAllister is teaming up with doctors and nurses from B.C. Children's Hospital to hold their third annual sickle cell picnic this summer and encourages families to attend.
Anyone wishing to contact McAllister about the upcoming picnic for sickle cell families can email her at adobiemc@hot mail.com.
