Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most prevalent hereditary blood disorder in the United States, affecting 90,000-100,000 Americans, mostly African Americans. Latoyia Webb is one of more than 800 people in Wisconsin living with the disease.
Diagnosed at 18 months old, hospital stays were common throughout Latoyia’s childhood —10 or more each year. While away at college, lack of care options and complications from SCD threatened to put a hold on her education. But Latoyia was determined. She returned home to Wauwatosa, Wis., where she found the treatment she needed to manage her pain, dramatically reduce her hospital stays and achieve her goal of completing her degree.
Latoyia is one of more than 250 patients being treated at the Adult Sickle Cell Disease Clinic at Froedtert Hospital, led by Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin Medical Director and Investigator Joshua J. Field, M.D.
BloodCenter of Wisconsin is a leader in providing research and treatments that enhance and save the lives of people like Latoyia. September is National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month, and the Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin is focusing attention on the critical need for blood donations from African American donors. Please help us spread this important message by sharing Latoyia’s story.
Versiti is home to world-renowned blood health innovators.
Versiti Blood Research Institute and Medical Sciences Institute are located on the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center campus in Wauwatosa, Wisc. Their 40 investigators are internationally known blood health innovators whose work spans basic, translational and clinical research in a variety of areas, including: sickle cell disease, hemophilia, cellular therapy and many more.
Additionally, Versiti Comprehensive Center for Bleeding Disorders (CCBD) provides diagnosis and ongoing medical and supportive care for patients with disorders that affect bleeding and clotting. Physicians work closely with these patients and are able to take what they learn in the clinical setting to the lab, where they partner with basic researchers to develop innovative treatments.