As the calendar fills up with weddings, birthdays, end-of-year events, and long-overdue catch-ups, it’s natural to feel excited. For those of us living with sickle cell disease, a second feeling often creeps in: anxiety. I have worried about how I will manage the fatigue. What do I do if…
Columns
How quickly time flies! I can hardly believe I’ve nearly completed another trip around the sun. It feels like only yesterday I was penning my thoughts for my 38th birthday column. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude that the warrior in me continues to prevail. I’ve survived another year, working toward…
Sickle cell disease is classified as a rare condition. Yet, for a long time, that was hard for me to believe, especially during my teenage years. Growing up in South London, a city with a large Black African population, I never felt that sickle cell disease was rare; it…
When you live with sickle cell disease, the chance of a hospital admission is always one crisis away. Pain can escalate quickly, infections can creep up without warning, and what starts as a niggle can spiral into something that takes you out of your daily life for weeks.
In the fall of my sophomore year of high school, my hematologist recommended me for my pediatric sickle cell program’s teen clinic. At that point, I was going to the doctor every one to three months, with more frequent follow-ups after a vaso-occlusive crisis. After 13 years of…
As September comes to a close, so does Sickle Cell Awareness Month, an annual time dedicated to highlighting the realities, challenges, and resilience of people living with sickle cell disease. While the fight for awareness and equity continues daily, I’m cautiously optimistic that something is shifting. This year, I…
While I am not a board-certified hematologist, I am an expert on my personal experience with sickle beta-zero thalassemia. One might say I am “board-certified” in living with the condition! When I disclose my illness to someone new, they often ask, “How is sickle beta-zero thalassemia different from sickle…
Having a big or protruding abdomen is a common habitus or symptom of sickle cell disease. It’s something I’ve dealt with personally throughout my life and I understand how it can impact not only our physical appearance, but affect us psychologically and emotionally too. I have always…
Whew! I’ve been on a rough ride recently. Regular readers of my column may have noticed that I’ve been absent for a while. Living with sickle cell disease has taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of listening to my body. It’s also reminded me how unpredictable and overwhelming…
As I’ve grown older with sickle cell disease, I’ve come to appreciate the incredible community that’s emerged. This network connects us, amplifies our voices, and gives us a platform to share our experiences. I’ve been fortunate to meet some amazing sickle cell warriors who’ve helped deepen my understanding of…
Recent Posts
- Sickle cell drug at high dose eases anemia symptoms in severe SCD
- Researchers urge more talk on menstrual pain in sickle cell clinics
- Sickle cell patients shifting to adult care visit ER more often: US study
- Early results of trial testing tebapivat in SCD expected later this year
- Gathering new evidence helps me tackle my fears with sickle cell
- Differences in red blood cell stiffness may explain variations in SCD severity
- Don’t let sickle cell pain crises keep you from setting goals
- FDA awards breakthrough device status to sickle cell diagnostic test
- Blood screen may spot potential complications in sickle cell children
- The good and bad of being a medical doctor and a sickle cell disease patient