From left: Deron Halstead (Jahmari’s father), Jahmari Halstead and Jahvaughn Halstead (Jahmari’s brother) in the cancer garden at Victoria Hospital, LHSC
November 27, 2025
Stem cell transplantation is now available as a possible treatment option at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) for adult patients with sickle cell disease (SCD).
While this treatment has been available for patients with SCD elsewhere in the province, in November 2024, through a collaborative team effort, the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program (BMTP) at LHSC provided an allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplant as treatment for an adult patient with sickle cell disease for the first time since 2007, and will now be able to offer this treatment on a consistent basis to those eligible helping provide care closer to home.
What is sickle cell disease?
Sickle cell disease is one of the most common inherited blood disorders, disproportionately affecting Black patients. It is a change in the hemoglobin where the red blood cells – which are typically shaped like discs – are instead shaped like sickles. Sickling of the cells leads to blockages in the arteries and can cause strokes and episodes of significant pain.
Awareness of sickle cell disease among health-care practitioners is still limited. As a result of this knowledge gap, sickle cell patients often encounter frustrating Emergency Department visits, where their pain is overlooked or underestimated because it presents without visible injury but with generalized pain.
LHSC’s Lifespan Hemoglobinopathy Program and the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program teams worked to improve equitable care for patients with sickle cell disease.
In addition to offering this treatment, LHSC is working to improve equitable care for patients with sickle cell disease through collaborations between LHSC’s Lifespan Hemoglobinopathy Program and Black Health team with the support of Ontario Health.
“The history of sickle cell care is tied with anti-Black racism and discrimination and LHSC being able to offer this treatment in our region is a demonstration on how we are working towards equitable access to care and health equity for those with this condition,” says Dr. Ziad Solh, Medical Director, Adult Hemoglobinopathy Program (of the Lifespan Hemoglobinopathy Program) and a hematologist and transfusion medicine physician at LHSC.
Jahmari Halstead’s stem cell transplant experience for sickle cell disease
Jahmari Halstead was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at birth. Originally from Jamaica, Halstead had been in and out of hospitals in Jamaica and Canada, mostly for pain crises, and would often miss school when he was younger until the pain subsided.
“My joints would hurt. I would get pain in my knees, ankles, wrists, fingers, and my eyes would get yellow,” explains Halstead. “When I was older, I was put on a medication that I had to take three times a day, and it helped my symptoms.”
Before Halstead turned 18, he was connected to Dr. Ashley Geerlinks, Paediatric Hematologist, Children’s Hospital at LHSC, before transitioning to Dr. Solh, who continues to follow up with Halstead as an adult.
Halstead was a good candidate for the stem cell transplant because he was a younger patient and had a sibling stem cell match.
Before Halstead’s stem cell transplant took place, the team in the Hemoglobinopathy Program tried to manage his symptoms with medications and would see him every one to three months to see if the sickle cell disease was manageable.
Because his symptoms continued, and he was a good candidate, Dr. Geerlinks referred Halstead to be considered for the cure with stem cell transplant.
“I was supposed to go to another hospital to get the transplant, but I’m glad I had it done at LHSC,” says Halstead. “All the nurses were good, and everyone has been attentive and supportive.”
The stem cell transplant
“It felt a little scary at the time when they came with the machine that puts my brother’s cells in and the other taking mine out. I was injected with something that made me sleepy, but my mom was beside me the whole time,” explains Halstead. “My mom and dad were worried, but supportive, about this treatment.
To prepare for the procedure, Halstead underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy to obliterate his stem cells, and he was admitted to hospital to receive his stem cells.
The stem cells go from bag to blood, and, because of the full match, they go back to his bone marrow where they will produce white and red blood cells.
“It takes about two weeks for the patient to stabilize after this process and they are an inpatient for one month,” explains Dr. Uday Deotare, Hematologist and Blood and Marrow Transplant Physician, Medicine at LHSC who supports Halstead post-stem cell transplant. “During the month the stem cell transplant patient is in-hospital, they effectively have no immune system and could get an infection which could be life threatening. Our team ensures the patient is well cared for and infection risks are minimal as their new stem cells help build back their immune system slowly. The risk reduces significantly as time passes. It takes about a year for a new immune system to be fully functional.”
Following the stem cell transplant
Halstead continues to be followed by Dr. Deotare and Dr. Solh to keep an eye on how he is doing following the transplant.
After he was discharged, Halstead was seen once a week for the first 100 days, then once every two weeks, then once a month and then once every three months until it is decided that he will only need a check-in appointment once a year for the rest of his life.
Halstead shares, “I am feeling good and doing better than before. I don’t have yellow in my eyes, and I just don’t feel like I have sickle cell disease anymore.”
Dr. Deotare explains, “It is great to see Jahmari doing so well. I continue to see him, so that if any complications were to arise, we would be able to treat him as soon as possible.”
Dr. Solh in the Hemoglobinopathy Program will follow up with Halstead about once or twice a year to ensure old complications of disease are resolved or are followed to ensure they do not worsen. Some potential issues include symptoms like chronic pain, residual effects of osteoporosis, and support for psychosocial development.
“It is great to see Jahmari doing so well, considering the list of complications for sickle cell disease is large. The cure allows us to feel reassured – so follow up is necessary to make sure there are no complications. We hope to see this cure by stem cell transplant used for eligible patients with sickle cell disease moving forward,” shares Dr. Solh. “This first is a great case that highlights the collaboration across departments including the paediatric and adult hemoglobinopathy programs and other teams within LHSC, like the ones in the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program.”
“Now, after my transplant, I want to focus on my future and going to college. I’m starting my college program in January 2026, and I’m looking forward to it,” says Halstead.