Columns

With a chronic condition like sickle cell disease, I sometimes find it difficult to look far into the future. What exactly will my future be like? Will there be more hospital trips? More pain? More sadness? Reflecting on my origin story in a previous column prompted me to question…

One of the many stereotypes of British people is that we can be extremely reserved. In many places in the world, it is common for people to greet one another on the street each morning. This is rare in the U.K., specifically in the southern part of the nation. If…

The trouble with sickle cell disease is that it’s challenging to determine which end of the severity spectrum a person might fall on. A person with sickle cell might do everything correctly — drink water, keep warm, take their medication, get enough rest — and still have severe crises. On…

I can’t stress enough the importance of drinking water. Experts recommend that normal, healthy adults consume six to eight glasses of fluid daily. Staying hydrated allows the body to function more optimally, which is especially important for people with sickle cell disease, as the potential consequences of dehydration are…

I am going to take you behind the scenes of how this column, “Sickle Sagas,” came to be. I will show you everything about how I became an incredibly successful sickle cell advocate and storyteller who changed the world for the better. OK, I’m being slightly dramatic. I haven’t…

Would I be a good mother to him? Would he have a good quality of life? How would I know if he is in pain, and would I be able to soothe him? And most importantly, would he hate me for bringing him into the world? These were just a…

June 19 was both World Sickle Cell Day and Juneteenth! It wasn’t until last year that I learned about Juneteenth — forgive me, I’m a Londoner. Similarly, many of my peers found out about World Sickle Cell Day only after meeting me. Last year, Juneteenth was highlighted to…

World Sickle Cell Day is upon us tomorrow, June 19. Following are memories that illustrate sickle cell’s ugly grip on my reality. *** The year was 2018 and the British Society for Haematology Annual Scientific Meeting booked me to speak about sickle cell pain management. I live…

Recently I have been engrossed in sagas about the viking king Ragnar Lothbrok as well as his famous sons’ exploits. A saga is a long story often involving herculean challenges. Although my life isn’t as dramatic as ruling over great nations or fighting for crowns, reading these stories has…

Many people with chronic illnesses may agree with a common statement that “our illnesses do not define us.” I understand that some believe their illnesses don’t change who they are. They can still live a meaningful, successful, and fulfilling life despite dealing with an illness. However, I disagree with that…