Welcome From Our CEO

A Note from our President & CEO

Linda Thomas Wade

At the Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation, family is at our core. In my teens, I was walking through the mall in Oakland, California and one of the original Black Panthers called me over to his health education table and said “Sister, do you know of a disease that’s killing our people? Let me test you for sickle cell trait.” I never heard of sickle cell trait nor did I know what sickle cell disease was at the time, but little did I know this encounter would shape my life forever. He was cute so I let him test me and my test came out negative for sickle cell trait.  A few years later, I met Marc Thomas.  He asked me out and on our very first date he asked me if I had sickle cell trait, because Marc suffered from sickle cell disease. I said no.  I asked him why he would ask me that on our first date.  He said because “I’m going to marry you.”

He kept his word and we shared more than 25 wonderful years of marriage and three beautiful children. Upon relocating to Texas, for a slower pace of life, we founded the Sickle Cell Association because there were no services being offered at that time. We started humbly in our two-bedroom apartment, but served dozens of families through education, hydration services, advocacy and championing for sickle cell families. My beloved husband, battled sickle cell disease, pulmonary hypertension and wore oxygen 24 hours a day, but that did not stop his passion of being a voice to the sickle cell families and their pain. In 2005 after a valiant and heroic fight against sickle cell disease, my beloved husband stopped fighting the disease that caused him so much pain and died at the age of 46. Although, the enormous and inexplicable pain of losing my husband, best friend and father to my children was profound, it also lighted a fire in me to continue the mission he started. Now, our agency which started in our living room has now grown to serving hundreds of families affected by sickle cell disease, sickle cell trait and other chronic conditions and has outreached to more than 750,000. We believe through support, education and effective programming we can improve the quality of life for families affected, while raising awareness to find a universal cure.

Thank you for learning more about the Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation and I encourage you to get involved in one of the many events or programs we have throughout the year. Together we can make a difference. Please feel free to give us a call at 1-844-994-Hope to get help or learn how you can get involved.

Blessings,

Linda Thomas Wade

President & Chief Executive Officer