Columns

The nature of sickle cell pain crises is often misunderstood due to inadequate knowledge and research. This limited understanding extends even to healthcare professionals. It’s crucial to recognize that many common assumptions about crises — including their onset, duration, location, character, severity, and ending — are inaccurate. Drawing from…

I took a break recently and rewatched some of my favorite anime and cartoons. There’s a popular idea in these types of media called a “canon event,” which is like a “what if” concept. The idea is that a canon event must happen for a person to become who…

In discussions about sickle cell disease, the term “sickle cell trait” is often bandied about. But what does it mean? Scientists have found that sickle cell trait originated as an evolutionary response to malaria, one of the deadliest illnesses in tropical regions. The trait offers natural protection…

For a long time, I’ve been against the notion of being called a sickle cell warrior. I didn’t feel I deserved the title. A warrior, to me, is a skilled combatant who’s spent years developing a craft, like the Vikings who inspired my first column. Being a warrior,…

Over the years, especially since I got married and had kids, my focus has been primarily on others, rarely allowing me the chance to think selfishly. Now, as a dedicated caregiver to Ada, my little cousin with sickle cell disease, I’ve learned to prioritize her needs above my own.

Joining sickle cell support groups has proven invaluable for me in navigating the challenges of living with the disease. The benefits I’ve gotten from these groups have far outweighed the drawbacks I’ve encountered. In 2018, I joined several support groups while struggling with avascular necrosis, which left…

The past few months have brought me a stretch of good health. Because the cold can trigger a sickle cell crisis for me, I tend to have fewer issues during the summer. I’ve also been taking my vitamins and supplements, eating a healthy diet, doing what’s…

Sickle cell disease is one of the most common serious genetic conditions affecting people in England, where I live. An estimated 15,000 people have the disease here in the U.K. According to the Sickle Cell Society, approximately 300 babies are born with sickle cell each year in…

As my little cousin Ada voiced her desire to take part in her school’s sports competition games, a surge of concern washed over me. Her recent recovery from malaria had left her in a delicate state, and the thought of her training rigorously during this time troubled me. I’ve…

Living with sickle cell disease in Nigeria, where I’m from, often entails hiding one’s condition because of societal stigma. However, I’ve chosen to defy this norm and speak openly about my sickle cell challenges. When I was 11, my parents disclosed my health condition to me. At the…