By Howard Koplowitz and Michael Morton
The 32-year-old Springfield Gardens woman sat Tuesday in Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park in critical condition, waiting for a donor with her rare blood type in order to get a life-saving transfusion for acute sickle cell anemia. She needs blood type A-negative or other blood types with matching antigens U-negative or RH-negative, which only another black person can supply. Only 5 percent of the black population is type A-negative. So far, just a few units of appropriate blood have been found and more are needed.”Finding my blood type is like finding a needle in a haystack,” said the Springfield Gardens woman, who is the mother of an 8-year-old boy.Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder that distorts hemoglobin molecules, the part of red blood cells that distribute oxygen and then bring carbon dioxide back to the lungs. Sickled red blood cells become misshapen, blocking blood vessels and oxygen-carrying red blood cells, leading to oxygen deprivation and pain. While the faulty cells die quickly, they leave the body chronically short of red blood cells. In Davina's case, her bone marrow has stopped producing red blood cells altogether, making transfusions necessary. But with so many of the procedures in the past, the 32-year-old's body has developed antibodies against several blood types, making a perfect match the last resort.”I know what it's like to live with sickle cell,” said Daniels, a single mother. Both her parents carried the trait, but she did not pass it on to her son. “It's my worse nightmare,” she said of the disease.While it can be found in other races, sickle cell affects blacks at a higher rate, with one in 500 suffering from the condition. Black blood donations are currently underrepresented in the general population, according to City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), who has been advocating on Daniels' behalf. He and other Council members are holding community blood drives next month, with times and locations to be announced. Daniels' church, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church at 89-26 168th St., will also hold a drive next week. And the city hospital workers union, Local 1199 SEIU, which has many black members, has asked its ranks to donate.Daniels is hopeful a sizable supply of blood can be found.”I have to have faith because without it I have nothing,” she said.Reach reporter Michael Morton by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
