CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – For former Clarksville resident Carrie Stevenson, blood transfusions aren’t a rare emergency – they are a regular part of life.
Stevenson was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at just 4 years old, following her first stroke. Since then, she has spent years managing pain crises caused by the condition. “I’ve been in and out of the hospital for years because of that,” she said.
During those episodes, Stevenson relies on blood transfusions to help manage the pain and stabilize her condition. “Those transfusions are basically our lifeline,” she said. “They help us get through the day and be able to operate in society.”
Without them, she said, patients are often left hospitalized with little relief. “We’re just stuck in the hospital in a pain crisis,” Stevenson said…