Charlotte, N.C./June 9, 2023 – Bre'Asia Demery ’24, a Psychology major at JCSU, was diagnosed with sickle cell disease when she was just four years old.
Now a rising senior, Demery has decided to dedicate her summer to Be the Match, a stem cell and bone marrow donor registry, to help those who, like her, are impacted with blood-related sicknesses and other diseases.
“Living with sickle cell you never know when you’ll get sick,” said Demery. “Many of my friends have had a stem cell transplant through this foundation and it gave them amazing results. I chose to intern with Be the Match because I know what it feels like to have no voice. If I can be the voice of these patients who need it, I’ll be satisfied in life.”
Demery found her voice in Dr. Paulette Bryant, one of her doctors who helped her cope physically and emotionally with the chronic disease. Sickle cell can cause infections, chronic pain and fatigue and disproportionately impacts the Black community, with one in 13 Black or African-American babies born with sickle cell trait and one in 365 born with the disease.
Be the Match focuses on using cheek swab test kits to match patients with donors. During her internship, Demery will collect the cheek swab samples and host events where she will speak about her own battle with chronic illness and how anyone interested can help those in search of a donor match.
She found the internship by staying active on LinkedIn. A talent acquisition partner at Be the Match reached out to her to ask her if she would be interested.
“I jumped at the opportunity and I continued to be my authentic self as I reflected on how my journey is similar to their current patients,” she said. “My prayer in life is that if I could reach one person and help change their life, I’d be happy and this internship with Be the Match grants me that opportunity.”
Demery said that JCSU helped her break out of her shell. She credits Kenyatta Reed, Jennifer Joyner and former staff member Kabreel McEachin for the opportunities they gave her to cultivate her skills.
“They saw something in me I didn’t see in myself,” she said. “They pushed me even though I didn’t want to be pushed.”
She said Dr. Ruth Greene and Dr. Douglas Cooper, professors in the Psychology department, have been great support systems along with President Clarence D. Armbrister; Anthony Brown, director of Student Leadership and Engagement; and George Buggs III, an academic advisor.
And, of course, Demery said she is thankful to her friends, pastors and family, especially her mother Coretta Robinson-Demery and her father Bernard Demery Sr.
Demery said students looking for experiential learning opportunities like hers should take initiative in building relationships with the career center.
“Go to STAR Thursdays at the career center where they help students with their resumes so they can land great internships and jobs,” she said. “You can connect with me and let me help you, too! Stop selling yourself short and start presenting yourself as the educated, intelligent, competent and tenacious person you are. We all have the capability to do anything in life. We just have to learn how to let faith be bigger than our fear.”
For more information on Be the Match, or to join the donor registry, visit www.BetheMatch.org. Your donation can save a life!
