Young sickle cell patient in Wandsworth stars in children’s book to inspire the next generation of blood donors
One of our Haemoglobinopathy Service patients in Wandsworth, Angel, aged 13, who is living with sickle cell disorder has been featured in the book My Blood, Your Blood. The book, written by award-winning children’s author and educationalist, Laura Henry-Allain MBE - creator of JoJo and Gran Gran, the globally acclaimed children’s animation on BBC CBeebies, aims to raise awareness of sickle cell disorder and encourage blood donations within Black communities.
Our Haemoglobinopathy Specialist Paediatric Nurse in Wandsworth, Barbara Bailey, has been providing compassionate care to Angel. since April 2019. Over the years, she has supported Angel and her family through compassionate care, close monitoring, and expert guidance to support her in managing the complexities of sickle cell disorder. Barbara works closely with the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure Angel receives the best possible care, both in hospital and at home.
Reflecting on her journey with Angel, Barbara said: “I built a strong therapeutic relationship with Angel’s family early on, which created a foundation of trust and approachability. Using an individualised, client-centred approach, I delivered tailored education on sickle cell health and wellbeing. I prioritised timeliness in every session to ensure information was clear and relevant, while also listening attentively and giving Angel plenty of space to ask questions and share her concerns.
The book, My Blood, Your Blood, commissioned by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), provides an engaging way to demystify sickle cell disorder while celebrating the lifesaving role of Black heritage blood donors. Thanks to their generosity, children like Angel can go to school, spend time with friends, and live as full a life as possible.
Designed for children and adults to read together, it offers a positive introduction to the life-changing impact of blood donation, while highlighting the daily challenges faced by thousands of children across the UK who rely on specialist care and regular transfusions.
Sickle cell disorder is the fastest-growing genetic condition in the UK and disproportionately affects people from Black African and Caribbean backgrounds. The condition can cause episodes of extreme pain, organ damage, and other serious complications. For many patients, regular blood transfusions are a vital part of treatment, helping to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
By sharing Angel’s story, the book highlights the resilience of young patients and the generosity of lifesaving donors. It is distributed free to all Brixton primary schools and selected blood donor centres nationwide.
About our Haemoglobinopathy service
Already running in Wandsworth, our specialist haemoglobinopathy community service, provides holistic, specialist care to adults and children living with serious blood conditions like sickle cell and thalassemia in Merton, Sutton, Kingston, Richmond. The service expansion means clients from pre-natal to children, teenagers and adults receive specialist care in the community. The service works closely with local hospital-based haemoglobinopathy teams and GPs to ensure patients receive the highest quality care.
