SAN ANTONIO — American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood shortage as the number of donors hits 20-year low. Local blood center South Texas Blood & Tissue is seeing the effects of a low number of donors.
Nine-year-old Lyric Lampkin loves spending time with her family and her dog, Drake. But because of sickle cell disease, she has learned to do her favorite things differently. With the help of donors she and many others in San Antonio can receive the help they need to survive.
In life, there are some things you have no control over. But that ailment doesn’t define you.
“If my body tells me that something isn’t right, I have to tell somebody, like an adult or my mom because something serious can happen,” Lampkin said.
Lyric Lampkin is just as bubbly and energetic as any other nine-year-old.
“I would describe myself as a kind girl, changing the world. I love spending time with my family and friends, and I love learning in school.”
On the surface you would never be able to tell she has a disease. Her mother, Shanice Bishop says her daughter has had five blood transfusions since she was born.
“You can immediately tell the difference, giving blood does to her condition. It’s like night and day,” Bishop said. “One thing with sickle cell, when patients like Lyric, receive blood they try to match it as close as they can with the same ethnicity. Getting blood from the Black community will definitely help her and others.”
Roger Ruiz is the senior communications specialist with South Texas Blood & Tissue. He says nationally - minority donors have dwindled. According to ‘U.S. Blood Donation Statistics’ and 'Public Messaging Guide' by America's Blood Centers (ABC) and the Association for Blood Donor Professionals (ADRP) there has been a 35.4% decrease in minority donors in 2021 compared to 2019.
“There’s hundreds of Lyric's waiting for blood transfusions," Ruiz said. ”Donating takes less than an hour. So if you have an hour to spare, please come in and donate."
One donation can help save more than one life, like Lampkin's.
“People really need help in this world," Lampkin said. "And I feel like they can do something in this world that can change everybody’s life.”
To find out how you can change someone’s life for the better, schedule a blood donation by visiting SouthTexasBlood.org or call 210-731-5590.