Columns

Disease representation is essential in all aspects of life. Over the years, I’ve noted a few mentions of sickle cell disease in mainstream media by celebrities. I’ll never forget hearing “Hidden Pain” by A Star when it was released in 2019. It was the first time…

Living with sickle cell disease means dealing with constant fatigue and painful vaso-occlusive crises. These symptoms can impede on a normal life with wide-reaching implications, such as limiting social or work capabilities. Unfortunately, sickle cell also carries a stigma, both in life and within healthcare communities. Getting…

Every day I make a thousand and one micro-decisions to manage my health with sickle cell disease and avoid having a vaso-occlusive crisis. Most of these decisions are automatic, subconscious actions based on years of experience and learned behavior to prevent a crisis. For example, I’m always…

I have been a volunteer for a charity organization called Give Blood Spread Love for a couple years. We drop in on people at their work and other community establishments to raise awareness about sickle cell disease and blood donation. During these sessions, I speak about the different…

I strongly advocate for mental health and well-being because I have seen the personal benefits of it. By paying attention to these issues in my life, my overall mood has improved, I’ve become more confident, and I’ve been physically able to keep up with the demands of everyday life.

At the start of the year, I challenged myself to have zero sickle cell crises. I knew this goal was ambitious and something I’d never done as an adult, but I wanted to try. Putting it out there in the universe was my way of holding myself accountable.

In a previous column, I gave a brief overview of my family’s experience with sickle cell disease. Both my parents have the sickle cell trait, and of their four children, I’m the only one with sickle cell disease. One of my siblings has normal blood and two…

As World Sickle Cell Day approaches on June 19, I’ve been thinking about my contribution to raising awareness about sickle cell disease. For those dealing with the condition, sickle cell awareness is more than just a day: It is every day. However, building consistency when you have…

I struggle with the fear of letting others down. For example, suppose someone scheduled a work meeting that is inconvenient for me. I’ll do anything to make sure I attend instead of suggesting an alternative. Of course, offering an alternative doesn’t mean no or that they won’t work with…

In recent columns, I have written about why knowing your genotype is imperative when planning a family, as well as the steps to take to avoid having children with sickle cell disease. But for some, these simply are not options. Particularly for those already married, they may have…