Patients are being asked to participate in this study because they have severe sickle cell anemia (SCD) with or without the beta thalassemia trait. Sickle cell anemia is an illness where the red blood cells change shape and can clog up blood vessels. This keeps the body from getting the oxygen it needs. Thalassemia is when the body does not make enough hemoglobin, something that helps the oxygen get to the places it needs to go in the body. The patient may or may not need to get regular blood transfusions (getting more blood) to improve their quality of life (feel better) and prevent organ damage (problems with the brain, heart, lung, kidney, and gonad, for example.). The transfusions can also cause problems, including iron overload (too much iron in the blood), which can be fatal (patients can die) without regular deferoxamine shots. Even with the best usual treatments, people with thalassemia or SCD die sooner. There is no proven cure.