Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited, but not contagious, blood disorder where normal round shaped red blood cells change to a crescent (sickled) or “quarter-moon” shape.   Sickled shaped cells have difficulty passing through small blood vessels so they often jam up, blocking the flow of blood and oxygen to body parts and tissues causing extreme pain.  Lack of oxygen flow can also damage muscles, bones and internal organs and lead to other serious medical problems.