Blood donations are always necessary, but September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. The Red Cross has issued a specific plea to the African American community to step up and donate.

You hear it often: There’s a need for blood donors -- but there’s apparently a particular need for the Black community to step up and donate.

A Metro Detroit family going through a tough time has hope thanks to a long shot that came through.

BELLEVILLE, Mich. – One Metro Detroit family is celebrating a clean bill of health for their 11-year-old son who has battled sickle cell disease since birth. The journey for 11-year-old Jackson Walker has been difficult one, being diagnosed with sickle cell disease when he was born. “We have been going in and out of the hospital with him,” said Esther Walker, Jackson’s mother. “On Nov. 15, Jackson actually had the bone marrow transplant done to get cured of sickle cell,” Esther Walker said. I feel great.”Though the Walker family could not be happier about their son’s progress, the family now continues their battle financially.