OneBlood Secures Rare Blood Donations for Teenager’s Bone Marrow Transplant
OneBlood has successfully collected the rare blood donations necessary for a life-saving bone marrow transplant for Gigi Felix, a teenager in Florida battling sickle cell disease. The organization put out an urgent appeal for African American or of African descent…
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, July 24, 2026 —
OneBlood has announced the successful collection of rare blood donations, crucial for a life-saving bone marrow transplant for Gigi Felix, a Florida teenager undergoing treatment for sickle cell disease.
The organization issued an urgent appeal specifically seeking donors of African American or of African descent with Type O Negative blood. The community responded overwhelmingly to the call, with the necessary units of blood being secured within a matter of weeks.
Despite this significant achievement, OneBlood is continuing to seek donors with African American or African descent heritage who have Type O blood. This ongoing need is due to the anticipated changes in Gigi Felix’s blood type following the transplant. She will require specially matched blood transfusions throughout the duration of the procedure and her subsequent recovery period.
Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that affects red blood cells. Bone marrow transplants are a potentially curative treatment for the condition, but they require a close match between the donor and recipient. The need for specific blood types, particularly from certain ethnic backgrounds, can make finding suitable donors challenging.
The rapid and positive response from the community highlights the impact of urgent appeals and the willingness of individuals to contribute to life-saving medical procedures.
Story summarized from the original created by Julie Salomone on www.tampabay28.com, see more information here.
