Nationwide — Alexa Turner, a 9-year-old African American girl from Alabama, is preparing for a major medical procedure that could change her life after years of living with sickle cell anemia. Her 13-year-old brother, Amari Rose, will donate stem cells for the procedure, which is scheduled for January 2027 after years of hospital stays and other complications.
The disease has affected Alexa since she was a baby. Doctors diagnosed her with sickle cell anemia when she was 6 months old, after conflicting test results delayed confirmation following a concerning newborn screening. Since then, she has experienced acute chest syndrome, asthma, and repeated hospitalizations. She also receives regular medical attention to help lower her risk of having a major stroke.
This has become especially important after doctors discovered that she had been experiencing silent strokes. Part of her brain was not getting enough blood, showing that the disease was already causing damage without producing the obvious symptoms of a major stroke. The discovery made finding a long-term treatment even more important for her family.
Two of Alexa’s siblings were found to be potential matches for the transplant, but Amari was selected as her donor. When their mother, Jennifer Turner, asked whether he would be willing to help his sister if he was a match, he immediately agreed. The donor process is expected to begin in November, followed by the transplant in January. “When we found out Alexa had a match, I felt relief, gratitude, fear and hope all at once,” Jennifer said, according to AL.com. “We had been praying for a chance to give her a life beyond the pain and complications of sickle cell.”
The family knows the procedure will bring a difficult recovery period. Alexa could remain in the hospital for about six weeks and may have to continue school from home for nine to 12 months while her immune system rebuilds. Jennifer, who runs her own salon, plans to take several months away from work so she can care for her daughter and support Amari through the donor process. The family has created a GoFundMe to help with household expenses during that time. It has so far raised over $11,500.
Despite everything she has faced, Alexa remains active in school and her community. She cheers with the Thompson Little League team, spends time with friends, and has become an advocate for children with sickle cell disease. She organizes annual toy drives and uses social media to raise awareness. Now, her family is asking the community to support both children through the transplant and recovery.
“Most of all, please keep showing up for Alexa and Amari,” her mom said. “Knowing they have a community behind them gives us strength.”