“Growing up I couldn’t do a lot of what other kids could, like play sports. I wanted to play basketball, but I couldn’t because my mom was afraid of what would happen in the process.”
Jacorion Anderson is the son of Tessa Anderson, who works in the accounting office for Home Furniture. He is also a Sickle Cell Anemia patient. Sickle Cell Anemia is a blood cell disorder and is incurable. His brother, Zhaire, also suffers from Sickle Cell Anemia - two teenagers in one family fighting every day to stay healthy.
“Every now and then I get a little weak,and I get upset because I feel like we are battling it by ourselves,” says Tessa. “It’s exciting to work for a company that does a lot for so many different causes, but to be a part of and be experiencing this particular cause and to have my Home Furniture family support me in that feels really good. It makes the battle a little bit easier.”
Tessa reached out to her Home Furniture family about the struggles all Sickle Cell patients face, especially with hydration. She mentioned her support group hosts water and Powerade drives because “it is imperative that those with the disease stay hydrated and their electrolytes be replenished.”
“If you’re outside and can’t get to water, you could pass out and probably not wake up,” says Jacorion.
After receiving the letter from Tessa, Home Furniture sprang into action. The company decided to do a hydration campaign to offer support.
“We try to do campaigns that have a personal connection to our employees. We want them to know that HFC cares about them personally and professionally,” says Jill Mills, Home Furniture’s Community Project Organizer.
The Anderson family certainly felt the support. They had already been through so much including a stroke, surgery, and multiple blood transfusions, all in order to stay ahead of the disease.
“I would like to say thank you for all of your support in helping us fight this battle,” said Jacorion.
