It’s always frustrating to miss an event that you’ve been looking forward to for a long time — especially when it’s for reasons out of your control. Due to a sickle cell crisis, my little cousin Ada, who has sickle cell disease, was unable to attend her best…
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In 2006, the World Health Organization recognized sickle cell disease as a global public health problem. Sickle cell is not just a genetic blood condition, but a multisystem disease that can damage organs and shorten life spans. Moderate or severe forms can be especially virulent. While some…
For me, one of the worst parts of having sickle cell disease, aside from the horrific, debilitating pain of a crisis, is navigating the emergency department here in the U.K, where I live. I appreciate that it’s a high-pressure work environment that brings heavy responsibility, and it…
It took me a while to realize that intense emotions can lead me to a sickle cell crisis. Most of my health professionals never mentioned it when educating me about crisis triggers. From what I’ve learned as a physician, emotional triggers aren’t researched or documented enough. Hence, the…
Smile, be polite, be eloquent, and watch your tone to ensure others feel comfortable. These are my thoughts during daily interactions. Unfortunately, because of the negative preconceptions about Black men, my day-to-day is centered around putting others at ease. I often have to code-switch or behave in a more…
I recently got a new manager at work, which has improved my quality of life as a disabled worker. This change also instigated the creation of an emergency evacuation plan for me, and that change I question. To be clear, I’m not a wheelchair user, but I occasionally use…
Reserved, calm, and quiet are adjectives that have been used to describe me at some point, and I’d say they’re pretty accurate. I usually step out of my shell only when I’m around people I’m comfortable with or in a one-on-one situation. In group settings, I tend to be more…
Pain episodes brought on by sickle cell disease may come on suddenly and vary greatly from patient to patient. The ability of children and adolescents to chronicle and communicate their painful experiences may be facilitated by the use of diaries. I cannot stress enough how important it is for…
Chronic diseases and pain can sometimes take away one’s happiness. They are proven predisposing factors for depression. In my case, sickle cell disease has been challenging. Living with frequent acute pain episodes, chronic pain, and numerous sickle cell complications can easily snuff out your happiness, especially…
An eight-hour flight, a three-hour boat ride, a six-hour bus ride, and then a two-hour hike up a mountain: This is the journey I would take if I decide to visit extended family in one of the more remote parts of Cameroon. It would be a challenging, long, and arduous…
Recent Posts
- Fetal hemoglobin protects against sickle cell lung problems: Study
- Reflecting on a year of choosing myself while living with sickle cell disease
- New year, old goals, because repeating health resolutions works for sickle cell
- Researchers compare gene therapies for sickle cell disease in mice
- Emmaus to sell North American rights to sickle cell treatment Endari
- For sickle cell patients, developing self-advocacy skills starts in childhood
- Standard sickle cell treatments slash stroke risk in children: Review
- Is sickle cell disease considered a disability?
- Tips for enjoying the most wonderful time of the year with sickle cell
- Big Nova donates $3M to expand access to stem cell transplants