It Has To Be A Better Way...

1st Day of Blood Transfusion

Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound screening can identify children with sickle cell anemia who are at elevated risk of stroke and may benefit from chronic transfusions.  When doctors notified us KJ's test were abnormal, they aggressively started him on a weekly blood transfusion regiment. At the time, we had know idea he would have to have chronic transfusions for the rest of his life.

KJ hates being poked! It broke my heart to think about how I would tell him in addition to all the regular pokes from ER and clinic visits, he will be getting poked a lot more often.  Dealing with the diagnosis the best I could, I informed KJ he would be receiving his 'superhero' powers.  I found the perfect superman shirt with a cape attached from Target.  He loved it!

The 1st few weeks of blood transfusions back to back prove to be extremely emotionally draining for me and my husband.  More importantly, it was painful and traumatic ordeal for KJ.  It got to the point, we needed three people to restrain him in order to start his IV.  Often times, my husband would leave work to come help me hold KJ down for his poke.  As I watch my son scream, cry and fight with a lump in my throat I thought to myself "it has to be a better way."