Our Mission
To educate the public about sickle cell disease, with special emphasis given to people of child bearing age, while improving the quality of life with direct services for patients and their families that suffer from sickle cell disease.
The Kansas City Chapter
The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Kansas City Chapter, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation chartered in the state of Missouri with an 501(c)3 tax status since November 1976. We are an affiliate and member of the national organization, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. who has offices located in Baltimore, Maryland.
| was discovered in the United States over 100 years ago and because of the unique characteristics of sickle cell disease modern science uses it as the prototypical genetic disease. Sickle cell disease is as inherited defect in the blood. The disease is named for the sickle shape that it gives to normally round blood cells. The sickle-shaped cells clog the bloodstream, causing obstructions that can result in serious medical problems. Sickle cell is not contagious to have it a child must inherit two abnormal genes, one from each parent. With only one gene, he or she will have the sickle cell trait. Approximately 54,000 babies are born each year with sickle cell trait. In the United States sickle cell disease is most common in African Americans and those of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Indian ancestry. There are between 70,000-80,000 Americans with sickle cell disease and 3.5 million with related disorders.
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Meet Charles Curtis Rice III the His family calls him "Chucky". Complications from sickle cell disease first began when Chucky was two months old. Fluid started building up in his lungs. By the time he turned three years old, his mother said," His medical records file looked like a phone book". Chucky is five now, and sometimes has fevers, and pain in his back, legs, and feet, but in between the painful crisis he likes to play basketball, soccer and spend time with his Playstation. He also enjoys writing and putting puzzles together. His favorite foods are cakes, cookies, and cheeseburgers. To read books to his big sister, Ceniya, gives him the most pleasure. Chuckys' mother said to see her child in a hospital with needles and tubes in pain, is a heart breaking experience. She said, from the first time Chuck was so sick, “I knew I needed a higher power to keep us all together. I thank GOD every night for blessing me and to keep watching over our family."
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The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Kansas City Chapter, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation chartered in the state of Missouri with a 501-C-3 tax status since November 1976. We are an affiliate and member in good standing with the nation organization, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. based in Baltimore, Maryland. SCDAA is the only health agency in the country that is operated predominately by African Americans. Our mission is to educate the public about sickle cell disease, with special emphasis on people of childbearing age. We strive to improve the quality of life for persons that suffer from sickle cell disease, and their families, with direct services.
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If wealth is measured by caring and compassion, Angie Aker ranks as a multimillionaire. She wore a variety of hats in many organizations, and touched the lives of people in need. Two of her sons were diagnosed with sickle cell disease. Both died, one at 16, and the other at 26. From this tragedy, Mrs. Aker found her real mission in life. She started the Kansas City Chapter for the Sickle Cell Disease. The reason she said, "No one should have to go through raising a sickle cell child alone." Angie Aker also worked to reform nursing homes, and other concerns of the elderly. She was one the founder of Mid-City Chapter of American Association of Retired Persons. In 1975, she was named Woman of the Year among a seven state area by AARP. A year later, she was honored by President Gerald Ford as International Woman of the Year. When asked how she could live a life caring while living in poverty herself, Mrs. Aker replied, "It's a thing you learn to get use to. ...like having a corn on your foot, you get use to it.
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