Santonio's son has sickle cell anemia

Santonio Holmes recently donated the proceeds of the online auction for his gloves that he wore in Super Bowl this year. He donated the $70,000+ dollars that the gloves sold for to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc.

Holmes feels compelled to do his part in finding a cure for sickle cell anemia, mainly because his 6 year old son has been diagnosed with the lifelong incurable disease.

Sickle cell anemia is a serious disease in which the body makes sickle-shaped red blood cells. “Sickle-shaped” means that the red blood cells are shaped like a "C."

Sickle cell anemia varies from person to person. Some people who have the disease have chronic (long-term) pain or fatigue (tiredness). However, with proper care and treatment, many people who have the disease can have improved quality of life and reasonable health much of the time.
Due to improved treatment and care, people who have sickle cell anemia are now living into their forties or fifties, or longer.