Sleeves Up for Myah

Hello my name is Myah Rose O'Dell.  I am the youngest child of Michelle Garrison and Felipe O'Dell. I was born July 2014 with a condition called Hemoglobin SD Disease which is a form of Sickle Cell Disease which causes me to have monthly transfusions.  It is an inherited trait from both of my parents.  This is my story... my family started a campaign called Sleeves Up for Myah to encourage people to donate blood to help supply the shortage in Arizona. Many people are not able to donate blood so instead have asked to donate money so my parents have created this website for that purpose. That is why our goal is set at $1.  We appreciate any donation type whether it is a monetary donation, a blood donation, or a purchase of our campaign merchandise.  My family is trying to raise money to pay for the medical expenses I have accumulated over the last few months. They also want to make sure blood is available for my transfusions. Below is information on blood drives we will be hosting and merchandise we are selling. Thank you for reading my story. This is my dad Felipe and my siblings not long after I was born. (Estevan, Zachary, Isaac and Mikayla)
Many people do not know what Sickle Cell Disease is...so I hope this helps.
This is me at a week old...I am wearing my burgandy bandana in honor of my Sickle Cell Disease.  I was diagnosed through my newborn screen when I was born.These are some of my first pictures.
This is me and my family supporting Breast Cancer Awareness in Tucson walking for two special ladies Cyndie Escarcega and Cricket Aguero Rodriguez. I finshed my first walk at a few months old.
After the walk I tailgated with my family. We are  UofA fans. I was born a Wildcat. My mom graduated from there.
This is my first time to the Marana Pumpkin Patch. I enjoyed the outdoor. 

This is my first Halloween and first Thanksgiving.
On Thanksgiving I began my battle with sickle cell disease at 4-months old. I suffered from a low grade fever and was very irritable and fussy. The next day I seemed a little better, but early that next morning I began crying nonstop.  I was becoming very pale, irritable, tired, feverish and had obvious abdominal pain. I could barely hold up my head.  On November 28, 2014 my parents took me to the Phoenix Children's Hospital Emergency Room. I was admitted into the Pediatric Intensive Unit.  I had a very low hemoglobin level of 3.8 and was diagnosed with having sequestration crisis (enlarged spleen).   I  received 3 blood transfusions to get my hemoglobin to rise to a normal level of 9.4. The transfusions helped to release the sickled cells trapped in my spleen. The blood transfusions saved my life!
I spent 3 days in the hospital from 11/28/14-12/01/14
Since my release from the hospital the plan for my care is to increase my dosage of daily penicillin, get my normal immunizations and special immunizations up to date, begin monthly chronic transfusion therapy on 12/23/14, and undergo a splenectomy at the age of 2. Sequestration crisis tends to reoccur, so if this continues to happen, my splenectomy may have to occur sooner. There is also a possibilty of another surgery to insert a port into  my heart to assist with my transfusions. I began taking folic acid and may eventually need medication to help treat the iron overload I may experience from  getting  monthly transfusions.
This is my first Christmas Eve and Christmas... one day after I started transfusion therapy. 
This is me and my grandma...she spoils me.
These pictures are of some of my aunts and uncles and my grandparents. They are my biggest supporters.
My next transfusion day was on January 30, 2014. It was really rough for me and my parents.  I was poked over 7 times and developed high blood pressure during the transfusion. I left the Phoenix Children's Clinic and had to be taken to the Phoenix Children's Emergency Room. 
These are my 6 month pictures taken not to long after my last transfusion.
On January 3rd, 2015 my family started a blood donation campaign in my honor called "Sleeves Up for Myah" to try to help supply the need for blood in Arizona.
Some of my family at my first blood drive. 
  Our blood drive was a huge success. We had 72 successful donations.  There were 62 whole blood donations and 10 power red (double red) cell donations. Each donation had the possibility to save over 3 lives that is 200+ people saved. 

Santa Cruz High School Honor Society held a drive on February 17, 2015 in my honor. It too was a huge success. Many of the donors were students that used to be in my moms class. She was their 8th grade teacher. It was awesome!
My friends Denise and Roy Gutierrez and the boys at Purgatory Tattoo in Phoenix held a fundraiser for me at their shop. We love and appreciate them very much.
This is a picture of dad getting a Sickle Cell Ribbon with my name tattooed on him. My cousin PJ and Nina Abby got one too. I love them very much. 
This is my doctor at Phoenix Children's Hospital checking my spleen before my last transfusion on February 27, 2015
This is me with my mom holding my precious gift of blood from a generous donor. These donations keep me healthy and strong. 
These are my Beads of Courage and they tell my whole story of my Sickle Cell battle the last few months. Every bead tells the story of hope, strength, and courage.Red beads are transfusions, blue beads are clinic visits, black beads are number of times I've been poked (30+), purple beads are antibiotic shots, pink beads are emergency room visits, yellow are hospital stays, white block with hearts is ICU stays, and the circular bumpy ones are rough days.  
My next blood drives are: 
Myah's 2nd Annual Holiday Blood Drive
Saturday, January 2nd, 2015 
9am to 2 pm
Toltec Community Center
3650 W. Shedd Road

You can sign up online at bloodhero.com or you can contact my mom to sign you up.  
Michelle Garrison -  [email redacted] 
Please help our family pay it forward and make sure there is enough blood on the shelf to help me and others like my friend Blake Page (in the green ninja turtle jacket) from Casa Grande. He has a condition called Severe Aplastic Anemia and needs weekly transfusions. He is currently waiting for his bone marrow transplant to make him healthy again. Blake's awesome parents also host blood drives for him.
My family has had many people contribute to our campaign to help spread the awareness of Sickle Cell Disease and the importance of blood donation through donating blood and the merchandise below.  It is available to be purchased.Sleeves Up for Myah Shirts  for $1500Necklaces $10.00 and Hair Flowers are $ 6.00
Sickle Cell Bracelets $10.00

Please contact my mom if you are interested in purchasing a shirt, necklace, flower or a bracelet at [email redacted]. We are trying to raise money to pay for the medical expenses I have accumulated over the last few months. Thank you for your time and any form of contribution you are able to make towards this cause. It is much appreciated.

Love, 

Myah Rose O'Dell & Family
  May 2015 I had a port inserted into my chest to help with my transfusions. I was in the hospital for three days. I came home from the hospital for 2 days and ended up back in the hospital for 3 more days with 104 fever.
This is me admitted again for another fever on Mother's Day 2015. 
This was me on my first birthday July 2015!!

Though she be but little, she is fierce!! 
This is me getting blood removed throught my port before I receive a donor's blood during my transfusion. 
Eloy City Council Members honored me at one of the town meetings. They have supported me and my family. I am so lucky to be a part of such a loving community. 

This is me during one of my monthly transfusion appointments. Currently I am fighting iron overload. Most normal people have an iron level of between 10 - 99 and I was at 2400 at one of my last appointments.
At two years old I had my spleen removed to help with the issue of my sickled cells getting trapped in my spleen and causing a lot of pain. When they removed my spleen it was very black and hardened from all the damage that was caused  over the last few years. 
My third birthday party. I love Shopkins.




I share my story and promote my blood drives all I can to try to help spread the word about Sickle Cell. I was in the newspaper and my mom was even on a radio show.  My family also attends United Blood Service events like the one at the Diamondbacks game. 

Every year I have to go in to have a series of tests done to check on my brain, heart, lungs and other organs to see if there is any damage being caused by this disease. Even at 3 years old I run the risk of experiencing a stroke. 
 Since my spleen removal I have caughts a few and cold viruses that continue to keep me in an out of the hospital. My latest diagnosis was Acute Chest Syndrome/Pneumonia. 
BloodTransfusions have saved my life. I have probably had close to 60+ blood transfusions in my short life. Thank you to all of the donors that are willing to answer the call and become a life saving donor for someone like me. 
My family and friends began this journey with me 3 years ago and have helped out ever since. I love you all. 
Please come out January 6th to help us reach our goal of 100 donors for my 3nd Annual Holiday Blood Drive from 9am to 2pm. It will be held at the Eloy Fire Department.
My only hope for a cure at this time is a Bone Marrow Transplant.  The money raised from this site will be saved until the time it is needed when I have the opportunity to have my transplant in the future when I am a little older. My mom will have to take time off work and there is a lot to do to prepare. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. 

 .