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One of the most annoying things about sickle cell disease is that a hospitalization can occur with very short notice. I might be fine one moment only to become severely ill the next, often without any heads-up from my body. Therefore, it is important to be prepared. Because I…

There is no single weight, shape, size, age, or ability that dictates healthiness — no single standard. Our bodies and minds are built uniquely, so we must embrace our differences to avoid making unhealthy assumptions and comparisons. Many combined factors are used to assess health:…

It has been a while since I last wrote. This is because unfortunately, I had another hospital admission. I was admitted in mid-April and discharged last week, so I was hospitalized for quite some time. I had a sickle cell crisis, although I’m uncertain about what caused it. I…

Unfortunately, the healing process is not always as straightforward as we’d like it to be. In fact, it can become quite exhausting and frustrating. For example, perhaps after feeling unwell for some time due to an illness such as sickle cell disease, a person’s body may start to…

In 2005, my doctors started me on a medication called hydroxycarbamide, also known as hydroxyurea, or “hydra.” It was prescribed to help me manage the symptoms of sickle cell disease. Many people with sickle cell disease use hydroxycarbamide. Before my care plan changed to regular exchange transfusions, I used…

Recently, a fellow sickle cell warrior messaged me on Instagram to ask if I thought they should document their health journey by starting a blog. This is something I will never discourage. I started publicly sharing my health journey with a blog,…

I have a lot of pride when it comes to my general knowledge. I think I am a great person to have on your team when playing board games like Articulate and other general quizzes. You can trust me, I’m not being biased in the slightest. As a kid,…

When I go to my doctors with a problem, I’m never under the impression that it’s something permanent. Rather, I’m usually optimistic that they will offer a solution.  Recently, I have been experiencing pain in my lower back and knees. After a few X-rays and MRI scans,…

For the first time in my life, I played a game of football, or soccer as it’s called in the U.S., with my friends. Was it tiring? Absolutely! Was it fun? Extremely, and I would certainly do it again.  I’ve watched my fair share of football…

I want to start by stressing that I do not believe a booming career is the only parameter of success. I have previously written about what success means to me and how sickle cell disease has shaped my outlook on it. Having a successful career is a goal that…