From the outside Isaiah Darden-Roey may seem like a normal 8-year old. But in his short life he's had multiple surgeries, and more than one hundred blood transfusions, which means constant visits to the hospital.

Latyna Lewis, Isaiah's mother, says, "Isaiah was born with Sickle Cell Anemia."

A disease that effects nearly seventy thousand people in the United States. Isaiah one of the many affected has suffered serious illness.

"He's had a whole lot painful episodes, he's had pneumonia, surgeries like taking out his tonsils and adenoids to I guess prevent more infections," said Lewis.

After Isaiah's first stroke he was put on a list to receive blood transfusions every three to six weeks something he has become used too, "It's kind of good because I get more blood to keep me healthy," said Isaiah.

The Red Cross says about 90-percent of all Sickle Cell cases occur in people of African decent. A demographic the Red Cross is trying to tap into to help more people like Isaiah.

"I found out that if the person that your receiving the blood from is closely matched to your ethnicity there's certain markers in blood that can be more compatible with the blood," said Lewis.

Isaiah and his mother are working together to bring awareness to donors so more people can have a normal life like Isaiah does, "I would say thank you for giving me blood so I could feel better, and eat better, and drink better," said Isaiah.

The Red Cross is holding a Sickle Cell Awareness Blood Drive on Friday from 1:00p.m. to 6:00p.m. at the Urban League on Park Street.