This article was originally published in the March 2024 edition of Héma-Québec’s Magazine.

Priscille-Nice, stem cell recipient

A life-altering stem cell donation

The Sanons are intimately familiar with sickle-cell anemia, an inherited blood disorder particularly prevalent in the Black community, where one in ten people is genetically predisposed to complications. Unfortunately for Priscille-Nice Sanon, the odds weren’t in her favour: she was diagnosed with the most severe form of the condition at birth. The news was a devastating wake-up call for her parents, as they had already lost their four-year-old son to sickle-cell anemia.

Despite prompt treatment, Priscille was not spared the ravages of the disorder, characterized by debilitating pain and potentially life-threatening complications. Her childhood was spent enduring treatment upon treatment, including an unsuccessful trial with Hydrea, a drug known to sometimes yield positive outcomes. She also underwent over a hundred erythrocytapheresis procedures aimed at replacing abnormally shaped red blood cells with blood from compatible donors. Even with all these efforts, Priscille continued to experience severe complications, and her chances of having a stroke before her teenage years were increasing day by day. It became clear that a stem cell transplant was Priscille’s only hope.

Finding a compatible transplant donor is never an easy task. Fortunately, Priscille’s little sister Mical turned out to be a perfect match. On her very first visit to the hospital, Mical donated her stem cells—an incredibly brave thing to do, especially for an eight-year-old girl.

“Both my family and the medical team were incredibly supportive of her throughout the process,” says Priscille. “They all made sure she was fully prepared for the procedure, going through all the details and the expected benefits. Everything went off without a hitch.”

The stem cell transplant Priscille received at 11 proved to be a resounding success: now an adult, she lives a normal life with minimal complications. While her story had a happy ending, not everyone with sickle-cell anemia is as fortunate. Many are required to receive regular transfusions and are at the mercy of finding compatible donations, a feat that is still too rare.

Giving back with the Association of Blood Donation Volunteers

Priscille’s personal and family history made her aware of the importance of blood donation from an early age. Amid the quickly developing partnership between the Sickle Cell Anemia Association of Quebec and Héma-Québec, Priscille jumped at the opportunity to give back as a volunteer, assisting with blood drives, welcoming donors and distributing snacks. A few years later, her great dedication led to her being offered a role as a donation ambassador and the chance to help establish a youth chapter of the Association of Blood Donation Volunteers (ABDV). She eagerly accepted.

Since then, Priscille has been taking the lead in organizing countless activities to engage young people in a cause she really believes in. Many young ambassadors have joined in on promoting the importance of donation. The group’s activities extend beyond school walls, including happyhour outreach events in parks and other public places. These events are a great way to meet new people and spread the word about their cause to as many people as possible.

“Taking a human approach is very important,” says Priscille. “It’s incredibly motivating to meet and speak to people face to face. It makes all the difference because it helps people really understand the positive impact donations can have on others’ lives. Most of us are drawing from personal experiences, making the issue more tangible.”

The ABDV’s youth chapter has been gaining momentum and is close to reaching its goal of recruiting over 200 ambassadors. The group is always on the lookout for fresh new faces who are eager and committed to supporting the important cause of blood donation.