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As a graduate school student, I’ve come to realize that summer months and holidays are the best times for me to travel. I have a lighter schedule that allows me to travel home to see my parents, visit with friends, or go somewhere new. However, since the development of new…

One of the most challenging things about living with sickle cell disease is that, despite the planning, preparation, and precautions we patients take, a crisis or a pain episode can still unexpectedly happen. Sometimes, even when we do everything right to look after ourselves, our bodies remind us that…

I tell my children that we are a family that makes really good lemonade. Meaning, when life gives us something difficult or sour, we have an uncanny ability to turn it into something positive or sweet. I believe that is mostly due to the skills we have acquired while battling…

Recently, I’ve been receiving international professional opportunities, which have made me think about a question I’ve avoided for years: What would I do if an opportunity I’ve always dreamed about required me to travel abroad by airplane? What happens when one of your greatest career dreams comes within reach, but…

My name is Whitney Smith. I am 41 years old, an aspiring voice-over performer, roller coaster enthusiast, foodie, and animation lover. My hobbies include bike riding, Jet Skiing, traveling, playing board and video games, and collecting vintage toys. I live my life to the fullest, and I do it while…

If you’ve been following my journey for a while, you’ll know that in 2022, I had a port-a-cath fitted to support my blood exchange program. I have sickle cell disease and notoriously tiny veins, so after years of difficult cannulations, multiple attempts to gain access, and the anxiety that…

For the past five years, I have looked forward to turning 40. When my birthday finally arrived on Oct. 18, I expected a quiet day at home. I planned to rest before my big birthday party this weekend, perhaps with a few visits from family and friends. Little did I…

Is sickle cell disease (SCD) a blessing or a curse? I came across this question on social media a few days ago. As I prepare to turn 40, my answer, shaped by four decades of living with SCD, is that, to me, it is neither. It has become part…

I believe one of the most important things you can do, either as a sickle cell disease caregiver or a person with the disease, is to learn what can trigger a vaso-occlusive pain crisis. It can be nearly anything, both internal or external. Two of the most common triggers…

Recently, I’ve been writing more scientific articles, and for some of that research, I’ve been going back through scientific papers and looking at their references. One name I came across was my former doctor, Swee Lay Thein. It made me stop and think about how much she influenced the…