When Dr. Kelly Bernard-Igwe was born, her parents had no idea they carried the sickle cell trait. It wasn’t until her diagnosis at birth that they learned. For a time, life seemed normal. But at just four years old, everything changed.
“When I was a baby toddler growing up, I didn’t really have many or any crises, but when I was four, I did have a stroke. I had a blood clot on the right side of my brain, which led me to walk with a limp on the left side. I still walk with a limp now,” Dr. Bernard-Igwe tells BlackDoctor.org.
Her mother first noticed something was off when Dr. Bernard-Igwe stopped using her left hand.
“I was just pulling up my clothing with one arm. And so she thought that was strange. She also said I had a crooked smile,” she recalls.
You May Also Like
At first, her mother thought it was nothing serious.
“She just thought it was cute. And then I woke up walking with a limp. And again, she thought I just slept on my leg funny or something, but it persisted for days… That’s when she was like something’s wrong. So she reached out to our pediatrician and we had testing and figured out I had a stroke.”
RELATED: My Story as a Doctor & Sickle Cell Warrior: “We Are Resilient”
You May Also Like
That stroke, though devastating, became the turning point that shaped her life.
Without Blood Transfusions, I Don’t Know What Kind of Life I Would Have
Following the stroke, Dr. Bernard-Igwe began a strict regimen of blood transfusions. They became her lifeline.
“I honestly don’t know what kind of quality of life I would have. I started getting them as a result of the stroke to prevent further or future strokes. So I don’t know a life without having blood transfusions,” she shares.
Over the years, she’s received more than 280 transfusions—and counting. Each one keeps her body strong enough to live, work, and pursue her dreams.
Even today, she requires seven to eight units of blood every six weeks.
“A week prior to my next transfusion, I do notice myself getting a bit more tired. I might have headaches the week leading up, and then I’ll go in for the transfusion,” she explains.
She describes the difference after receiving a blood transfusion as almost instant.
RELATED: “They Said I Couldn’t” – How NBA’s First Sickle Cell Player Defied the Odds!
“I’m usually tired just from the procedure itself that day, but the following day I can tell a drastic difference in my energy level,” she notes.
The changes are visible too. After receiving blood, the brightness of her skin and eyes noticeably changes.
A Movement of Hope: Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative
Dr. Bernard-Igwe’s story is just one of more than 100,000 Americans living with sickle cell disease who depend on blood transfusions. And thanks to a powerful wave of community action, there is hope on the horizon.
This Sickle Cell Awareness Month, the American Red Cross is celebrating a rebound in blood donations from Black Americans—reversing a concerning decline and helping ensure patients like Dr. Bernard-Igwe get the lifesaving transfusions they need.
Launched in 2021, the Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative has already made a transformative impact:
- Inspired more than 140,000 first-time African American donors to give blood.
- Provided more than 300,000 sickle cell trait screenings, raising awareness in communities most affected.
- Collected more than 7,300 pints of blood at HBCU campuses through the Red Cross HBCU Ambassador Program.
- Awarded $205,000 in scholarships to future leaders who are committed to fighting sickle cell disease.
And this fall, the Red Cross is hosting more than 750 blood drives nationwide through its Joined by Blood activation—partnering with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, the Divine 9, HBCUs, churches, and community groups.
For patients like Dr. Bernard-Igwe, a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, these efforts are nothing short of life-saving.
Black Donorship Is Critically Helpful—It Saves Lives Like Mine
The push for more Black donors is critical. According to the CDC, one in 365 Black American babies are born with sickle cell disease, and many require transfusions throughout their lives. Blood donors who are Black are almost three times more likely to be a match for these patients compared to other donors.
Dr. Bernard-Igwe uses every opportunity to encourage more people to step forward.
“I know that through my conversations with Black people specifically that may not be familiar with either sickle cell or blood donation, it can be kind of a scary thing…So it’s essential that we as a community get out and donate as much as we can to help people like me,” she says.
Her story has already inspired those closest to her. Her husband, who had never donated before meeting her, became a first-time donor—and now he’s eager to keep giving.
The Stroke Was the Biggest Blessing in My Life
Though most would consider her childhood stroke a tragedy, Dr. Bernard-Igwe calls it her greatest blessing. It gave her purpose.
Her daily routine reflects the discipline of someone who knows her health depends on balance. She stays hydrated, avoids stress, and steers clear of extreme temperatures—all small choices that make a big difference in living with sickle cell.
I Wanted to Care for Patients the Way Nurses Cared for Me
Her medical journey didn’t just shape her health—it shaped her career.
“I wanted to be a part of the medical field since I was a child. I think after having the stroke and then having multiple blood transfusions throughout my life, I saw how the nurses treated me when I was young and I was intrigued by what they were doing,” she notes.
She recalls attending a conference around the age of 12 and seeing a nurse anesthetist explaining her job.
“I knew then it was so exciting, so fascinating to me. And from then on I told myself that’s what I want to do,” she adds.
That determination never wavered. Now a nurse anesthetist herself for the past 14 years, she brings that rare dual perspective.
“As a provider and a patient, it’s allowed me to be more empathetic towards the patients that I treat with sickle cell or with other disease processes in general…It’s allowed me to care for my patients with that much more care and compassion.”
Keep Fighting, Keep Holding Strong
To her fellow sickle cell warriors, her message is one of strength, faith, and perseverance.
“Keep fighting, keep holding strong. I know it can get difficult at times. I know the pain is like no other, but I think it’s important for us to keep a positive mindset. I am a Christian. I believe in Jesus Christ, so I pray often…Seek out treatment, seek out doctors that actually care for you..and just keep living as best as you can,” she advises.
And to potential donors, she has one heartfelt plea:
“It is so important to donate blood if you’re able. Many of us rely on blood donations to live. Since sickle cell affects mostly African Americans, it is of utmost importance to obtain more Black donors.”
For Dr. Bernard-Igwe, every unit of blood is more than medicine—it’s a gift of life. Thanks to donors, and to national efforts like the Red Cross Joined by Blood, patients like her are not just surviving, but thriving.
And she hopes her story reminds others of one powerful truth: when our communities give together, we heal together.
