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 Ask Dr. Jana
Sickle Beta Thalessemia | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Jana,
I came upon your site searching for sickle cell disease and the information I found is wonderful! In the article The Basics of Sickle Cell, you state that a blue-eyed, blonde baby is unlikely but can have sickle cell disease. Well, I have two sons with Sickle beta thalessemia plus. My oldest is three years old with light brown hair and brown eyes and my youngest is one year old with blondish hair and BLUE eyes. We are a very rare case, and I am searching for other families like us. My husband carries the sickle trait, which we were completely unaware of until I was tested during my first pregnancy and was found to have the thalesemia trait (which I too was unaware of having). Thank you for the wealth of information on sickle cell, and do you know how I can find other families with Sickle beta thalessemia? Thank you!— Vikki in Cape Coral, FL | | | ANSWER |
June 15, 2001 | | | Dear Vikki,
I am so glad to know that you found our sickle cell information to be so helpful. In trying to find other families with the same type of sickle cell disease that your children have, I would suggest that you contact a local children's hospital or a sickle cell center--such as the Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center (GCSCC)--and see if they can put you in touch with organizations or family support groups. According to Allan Platt, the program coordinator at the GCSCC, their center currently provides care for over 100 patients who have the type of sickle cell disease your children have--that is, Sickle beta thalessemia (or HbS-beta-thal).
Meanwhile, I hope that you continue to find more information on our site that will help you to raise happy, healthy children!— by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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