Photo: OneBlood
PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. — An 18-year-old South Florida woman battling sickle cell disease is facing a critical hurdle in her journey toward a life-saving bone marrow transplant: finding enough rare blood donors to make the procedure possible.
Gigi Felix has lived with sickle cell disease her entire life and is now preparing for a bone marrow transplant that doctors hope will cure her condition. Her brother has already been identified as a perfect bone marrow match, clearing a major step toward treatment.
However, the transplant cannot move forward until doctors secure 50 units of specially matched blood.
According to her medical team and blood donation advocates, years of blood transfusions have caused Gigi to develop numerous antibodies, making it difficult to find compatible blood. While many people are familiar with blood types such as A, B, AB and O, experts say blood compatibility also depends on hundreds of inherited markers known as antigens.
- MUST be African American, or of African descent.
- MUST be blood type O Negative
- If you do not know your blood type, but are African American or of African descent, you are strongly encouraged to donate blood. OneBlood will do the necessary testing to determine if you are a match for Gigi.
Because of Gigi's unique genetic profile, the blood she needs is most commonly found among people of African descent.
"These are not blood products that can simply be substituted," organizers said. "The donors who can help Gigi may be living right here in South Florida."
Community leaders are now urging residents, particularly those within the African American community, to donate blood through OneBlood and mention Gigi Felix's name when donating. Donations will be tested to determine whether they match the specific antigen profile needed for her treatment.
Those interested in helping can donate at any OneBlood donor center or Big Red Bus location and reference "Gigi Felix."
Several blood drives are also scheduled across South Florida this weekend:
Galen College at Edison Building
1200 SW 145th Ave., Miramar
- Monday, July 6: 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Advocates say the search for 50 compatible donors is urgent and that community participation could make the difference in helping Gigi receive the transplant she needs.
Watch Gigi's Story here and listen to 103.5 The Beat for updates on Gigi's story.