Columns

For many young people, summer has come to an end and the new school year has begun. School, no matter the grade or level, comes with both mental and physical challenges. It’s important that we equip children with sickle cell disease with the knowledge and tools they need to…

In my previous column, I shared that I’d contracted what I think was food poisoning, which led to dehydration and, subsequently, a sickle cell crisis. In seeking medical attention, I faced several hurdles while navigating my local ambulance services. Unfortunately, the hurdles often continue even after I’ve arrived…

Motherhood has beautiful moments, but it certainly comes with a dose of anxiety and emotional roller coasters. Add any type of impairment or disease to the mix, and you might find yourself on the verge of a mental breakdown. Caring for a child with sickle cell disease is…

While my son, who has sickle cell disease, has been mostly well, he’s had to go to the emergency room twice since being born. The first was when he was 9 months old, and the second was in March, just before his second birthday. The first incident was insignificant.

Recently, while on a long journey, I rewatched one of my favorite movies, “Inception.” I find the concept of the film unique; in short, it’s about manipulating someone’s subconscious or dreams to create a strong idea or obtain information. Our dreams and desires are powerful forces that can…

I was recently hospitalized for a sickle cell crisis. You see, I’d planned to go to dinner with a lovely friend whom I hadn’t seen since before the pandemic. But that was for the evening. When my sister-in-law reached out to ask my sister and me to join…

I almost can’t believe my son is 2 years old already! It doesn’t help that every time I take him out, acquaintances, and even some friends, scream in disbelief when they see him — they still expect to see a sitting baby, not a running toddler. I’m thankful he’s been…

Building relationships while having a chronic condition can be a daunting challenge. On the one hand, you want to be yourself and let people accept you for who you are. On the other, you might worry about how people will treat you and how they will respond to…

Having a condition like sickle cell disease can bring a lot of bad days. Crisis pain and extreme fatigue can be unbearable. Sometimes it feels like there are more bad days than good ones, as my collection of past traumas tends to resurface in my mind. However, I’ve recently…

Health-related stigma, as I discussed in my last column, is not the only stigma that afflicts those with sickle cell disease. There’s another stigma attached to it, one more localized, that can still have a detrimental effect on the patient. I’ll refer to this as culturally influenced…