Facts about Sickle Cell Disease in the United States -source: Sickle Cell Disease Association of America- 1. Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disorder which constitutes a global health problem. 2. Approximately 100,000 Americans are living with the disease. 3. One in every 500 African Americans and one in every 36,000 Hispanic Americans is born with Sickle Cell Disease. 4. Many more Americans perhaps as many as 2.5 million-including 1 in 12 African Americans are carriers for Sickle Cell Trait. 5. Given that these carriers are generally unaffected by Sickle Cell Disease complications, many are unaware that their children are at increased risk for the disease. 6. In November 2010, the world recognized the 100th year anniversary since the discovery of the disease. 7. Dr.James B. Herrick, an attending physician at Presbyterian Hospital and professor of medicine at Rush Medical College in Chicago, Illinois, published an article on the case of an anemic West Indian patient. 8. Herrick's clinical and laboratory findings of the patient's "peculiar elongated and sickle-shaped" red blood corpuscles represent the first description of sickle cell anemia in Western medical literature. 9. Despite the many strides that have been made to improve the lives of those living with sickle cell disease, the Sickle Cell Disease community still face numerous challenges. For instance: -The average life expectancy of a person with Sickle Cell Disease is still relatively young at 45 years old. -Presently there is only one medication that has been FDA approved to treat those with the disease. -There is an overwhelming shortage of physicians (primarily hematologists) that treat or specialize in Sickle Cell Disease which makes it difficult for patients to find a primary physician. -To date there is no comprehensive model of care within federal agencies to help reduce the major healthcare complexities that Sickle Cell Disease patients encounter. -Though one of the oldest diseases existing, Sickle Cell Disease receives a significantly disproportionate amount of funding for research and treatment compared to other diseases, particularly blood disorders. -Most importantly, 100 years since its discovery.....there is still no cure.