Columns

I was recently diagnosed with avascular necrosis (AVN) in my knees. When the doctor called to tell me, I expected to be OK with it. I had read fellow Sickle Cell Disease News columnist Tito Oye’s column about AVN, felt similar symptoms, and conducted further research. I tend…

Well, summer in the U.K. seemed to last all of 2 seconds. Now we are back to colder weather, shorter days, and higher heating bills. As the colder seasons arrive, those of us with sickle cell disease need to be more intentional about looking after ourselves. The cold may expose…

I often underestimate how much I have learned about sickle cell over the years. To live with a chronic condition, one must understand all the symptoms and side effects that come with it. However, these lessons aren’t freely given — there isn’t a handbook for living with sickle cell. I…

I recently watched a film on Netflix called “Strain,” which depicts the life of a child with sickle cell disease. The film mentions that stroke is a symptom of sickle cell, which I don’t believe is widely known. To mark Sickle Cell Awareness Month in September, I have…

When my son was diagnosed with sickle cell disease 17 months ago, I thought constantly about what this might mean for our future. But I don’t think about it much these days, and that’s mainly because he hasn’t had any sickle cell crises or other related pain. Perhaps it’s…

We are in the middle of Sickle Cell Awareness Month, and I can look back on my time as a sickle cell advocate and feel extremely proud about how far we’ve come as a community. When I started raising awareness about sickle cell disease by sharing my…

September always reminds me of preparing for a new school year. It’s been a while since I’ve had to do that, so I have long since fallen out of the habit. However, I have not forgotten the feeling of new stationary or shopping for things to take to college. One…

Sickle Cell Awareness Month is here again! I’m very excited about this one because it’s the first year I can wholeheartedly participate. Last year, I was still struggling to accept my son’s diagnosis, and even though I had announced I would stay strong and do my utmost to keep…

I recently posted on social media about a benefit that London residents with sickle cell disease may be entitled to, and its reception made me both happy and upset. As a Londoner, I’ve been using a disabled persons freedom pass for years. Provided by the U.K. government, this…

When a sickle cell patient mentions a crisis, most people think of a painful, vaso-occlusive crisis. I can understand why — it’s by far one of the most common complications of sickle cell disease. However, it’s not the only complication that can occur.  One day when I was…