London schoolgirl’s life with sickle cell immortalised in children’s book to inspire a new generation of Black heritage blood donors

London schoolgirl’s life with sickle cell immortalised in children’s book to inspire a new generation of Black heritage blood donors 

NHS Blood and Transplant commissioned children’s book provided free to all four-year-old pupils in Brixton to demystify sickle cell disease 

·         Angel’s story to be available in blood donor centres in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and Plymouth 

·         Book aims to inspire children and parents to speak about blood donation and the urgent need for more Black heritage blood donors 

·         Award-winning CBeebies author brings Sydenham schoolgirl’s experiences to life 

A London schoolgirl’s experience of living with sickle cell has been immortalised in a children’s book commissioned by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and given free to all Brixton primary schools during Sickle Cell Awareness Month (September 2025). 

My Blood, Your Blood is inspired by the real-life experience of Sydenham youngster Angel Salami, who was diagnosed with sickle cell disorder when she was a baby.  

In the book, Angel, now 13, and her dad Kehinde, who also lives with the disease, chart the impact sickle cell had on Angel as a four-year-old – the same age as the reception pupils who will receive the book.  It also celebrates the Black heritage blood donors without whom Angel wouldn’t be able to attend school, play with her friends, or live as normal a life as possible. 

Written by award-winning children’s author and educationalist Laura Henry-Allain MBE, who created JoJo and Gran Gran, the globally respected children’s animation on BBC’s, CBeebies channel, her latest book, My Blood, Your Blood, is a positive, uplifting, and accessible story that helps demystify sickle cell disease. 
 

Designed to be enjoyed by children and adults reading together, the NHSBT-commissioned book provides a fun and friendly way for families to learn more about the life-changing impact of blood donation. 

NHSBT hopes the book will also spark conversations in the home, community and classroom about the condition and the vital role blood donations – especially from Black heritage communities – play in combating the condition. 

There is an urgent need for more people of Black heritage to become blood donors to help the nearly 18,000 people like Angel and her dad who live with the condition - the UK’s fastest-growing inherited blood disorder, with 300 babies born with the condition every year. 

Sickle cell is more prevalent in people of Black heritage, and donors of African, Caribbean or mixed ethnic backgrounds are ten times more likely than the white population to have the specific Ro blood subtype needed to treat the life-long disease. 

This year, NHSBT needs to recruit an additional 16,000 Black heritage blood donors to meet the growing sickle cell need and add to the approximately 20,000 Black heritage blood donors already giving the gift of life. 

Angel Salami said: “I feel really good that the book is based on me, as people can learn what it is like to live with sickle cell and maybe be inspired by me. I feel it pushes people to learn more about uncommon blood disorders like sickle cell and the people that live with them. It shows them they are recognised. 

“I hope the book makes more people want to give blood donations and learn more about sickle cell from a young age.” 

Kehinde Salami said: “For too long, people with the condition have had to fight to be heard and get the treatment needed. Hopefully, education through schools and at a young age will help break down some of the myths and improve the lives of people growing up with the condition, now and in the future. 

“It is imperative more people from the Black heritage community understand how they can help people with sickle cell by donating blood. I know so many patients with sickle cell who have needed blood transfusions – their lives literally depend on donations coming from within the community. So, the more people donating, the more people can be helped.” 

NHSBT Director of Donor Experience Mark Chambers said: “A sickle cell patient may need up to 100 units of blood a year to manage the condition, so recruiting greater numbers of Black heritage donors is vital to meet the growing sickle cell need. 

“My Blood, Your Blood is an uplifting story of the power of community, and the huge difference blood donation makes to people every day. 

“Angel’s story is representative of thousands of other people who live with sickle cell in the UK, and that’s why we urgently need more people of Black heritage to become blood donors. 

“By normalising conversations around blood donation in the home and in our communities, we want My Blood, Your Blood to inspire adults reading the book with their children to register to donate – as well as the next generation of donors. 

“Giving blood is quick and easy and only takes around an hour of your time. To become a blood donor, download the NHSBT app, visit: Blood.co.uk or call: 0300 123 23 23.” 

Author Laura Henry-Allain MBE said: “Thirteen years ago, I was fortunate to receive ten units of blood provided by inspiring individuals who selflessly donated to help strangers like me. As a result, I am here today to write this inspirational and emotive book, My Blood, Your Blood. 

“It was a pleasure to work with Angel, her family and NHS Blood and Transplant in raising awareness of sickle cell and blood donation. As a writer, this has been one of the most special projects that I have been asked to work on.”