Saving Gigi

(Ft. Lauderdale, Florida – July 1, 2026) A race against time is underway to save the life of 18-year-old Gigi Felix. Gigi is battling an aggressive form of sickle cell disease and urgently needs rare blood donations to undergo a lifesaving bone marrow transplant.

Gigi has spent much of her life in and out of the hospital, enduring constant pain and complications from sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder. Her survival now depends on securing 50 units of very rare blood from very specific donors before doctors can proceed with the transplant.

Gigi says the transplant is her only chance. “To me it just seems like my last golden ticket,” she said.

Specific Blood Donors Needed - A Rare and Complex Challenge

The challenge in finding compatible blood for Gigi comes down to antigens. Antigens are found on the surface of red blood cells.  Genetics determine the antigens a person has and the antigens they lack.

For a person to be a match for Gigi, they not only need to be the same blood type, they need to have the same antigen profile, otherwise, her body will reject the blood.  The antigen combination Gigi has will only be found within a certain ethnic group.

In Gigi’s case, the required antigen profile is primarily found in individuals of African descent. “Essentially every suitable donor for Gigi is going to be of African descent. We need the African American and Afro-Caribbean community to step up to help save Gigi’s life,” said David Crawford, MD, PHD, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, at Holtz Children’s Hospital at UHealth Jackson Children’s Care.

Statistically, only 1 in 1,000 individuals of African descent will be a blood match for Gigi.

Around-the-Clock Search Underway

“It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack,” said Nancy Benitez, OneBlood Vice President of Immunohematology Reference Laboratories. OneBlood’s reference laboratory is leading an intensive, around-the-clock effort to identify compatible donors for Gigi.

“We have tasked OneBlood with a herculean task.  It’s going to take an incredible effort,” said Brian Cauff, MD, Chief of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida.

Donations from individuals of African ancestry are being carefully tested to find matches. “What we are doing at OneBlood in the reference laboratory is humongous,” said Benitez. “We are testing donations 24/7. Our goal is to find those 50 rare units of blood for Gigi.”

Some compatible units have already been identified and reserved exclusively for Gigi, but more are still urgently needed.

Doctors emphasize that time is critical. Without securing all 50 units the transplant cannot proceed. “The risks of going into a transplant without enough blood are too high,” said Dr. Cauff. “Without that transplant, she will continue to have life-threatening complications and I fear, life-ending complications.”

Community Call to Action

People of African descent hold the key in helping save Gigi’s life. “If you are a blood donor that matches Gigi, you are part of saving her life. It is that simple,” said Dr. Cauff.

OneBlood and Gigi’s doctors are urgently calling on individuals of African descent to donate blood so they can help identify potential matches. “This is a great opportunity for this community to help their own,” said Dr. Crawford. “To help someone who desperately needs them.”

Gigi is hopeful her story will inspire others to step forward. “I’m just asking for your help, because I really do need it. It would mean a lot to me,” she said.

To be a Match for Gigi Donors Must Meet the Following Criteria:

• Must be African American or of African descent.
• Blood type must be O Negative. Only 7% of the population has O Negative blood.
  • If a potential donor does not know their blood type, but is African American or of African descent they are strongly encouraged to donate blood. OneBlood will determine their blood type during testing and will also determine if their antigen profile matches Gigi.
• Donors can visit oneblood.org to make an appointment and to find a OneBlood donor center or Big Red Bus blood drive.

All blood donors are needed now: OneBlood has an emergency blood shortage of type O blood. The urgent appeal for donors for Gigi heightens the need for people to donate blood.

What Makes Gigi’s Blood Rare?

Gigi has had countless blood transfusions throughout her life. The number of transfusions she has had is what’s making finding compatible blood for her so challenging.

“When a person has had many blood transfusions, they create antibodies and those antibodies make it difficult to find compatible blood,” said Dr. Cauff.

“She has so many different antibodies to red blood cells that most blood is not compatible with her. We have to look very hard to find units that will work for her,” said Dr. Crawford.

Why is Blood Needed for the Transplant?

When Gigi goes through the bone marrow transplant, she will need blood transfusions until her body can start making red blood cells again.  Doctors are concerned she could have transfusion complications during the transplant and that is why an extraordinary amount of specially matched blood must be on-hand before proceeding with the transplant. “The risks of her going into a transplant without enough blood are too high.  We need an excess supply to be sure she is safe when she has the transplant,” said Dr. Cauff.

A Chance for a Cure

Gigi’s brother is a perfect match for Gigi’s bone marrow transplant. A successful bone marrow transplant will give Gigi a chance at a life free of the debilitating and life-threatening complications of sickle cell disease. “Almost every patient that gets a transplant for sickle cell is cured of the disease,” said Dr. Crawford.

Sickle Cell Disease and the Need for a Diverse Blood Supply

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that primarily affects the African American community and people of African ancestry. Many sickle cell patients require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives. To avoid transfusion complications the best blood match for sickle cell patients is for them to receive blood from donors of the same ethnicity.  Unfortunately, less than 4% of American Americans donate blood and that reality makes it challenging to find compatible blood for sickle cell patients.

“Gigi’s story shines the spotlight on the need for a diverse blood supply,” said Susan Forbes, senior vice president of corporate communications and public relations at OneBlood. “For patients with complex antigen profiles like Gigi, a diverse donor base is essential.  We are hopeful that by issuing a call to action to African Americans and people of African descent to donate blood, we will be able to identify compatible donors and secure the 50 units of blood needed for Gigi to have her bone marrow transplant,” said Forbes.

Additional Information

• Since birth, Gigi has been receiving medical care at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida to treat her sick cell disease.
• The bone marrow transplant will be performed at Holtz Children’s Hospital at UHealth Jackson Children’s Care.