Columns

Just like that, 2020 is over. What a year! I do not think 2020 turned out as expected or planned for anybody at all. When the year started, I had really low expectations. I did not expect a pandemic, but I also did not start the year with a list…

Here’s a little fun fact about me: Christmas is my second favorite time of year after August, which I like because it’s one of the hottest months here in the U.K. It’s also my birthday month, and the month that Notting Hill Carnival is held. With this festive period…

I have been writing for BioNews, the publisher of Sickle Cell Disease News, for over a year now. This experience has been amazing, to say the least. When I was first contacted about becoming a columnist, I was skeptical. I questioned whether I would be good…

I hate when sickle cell disease gets in the way of life, although I feel its effects 24/7. There is no escaping the symptoms, such as fatigue and chronic pain, which are less intermittent than the pain crises. But most times I can live with it, I can…

Iron overload is a side effect that some sickle cell patients suffer from as a result of blood transfusion programs being used as long-term treatment plans. Back in September, I wrote about trying a new medication to address my iron overload problem. For the past two years,…

On Nov. 9, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that their COVID-19 vaccine was found to be more than 90% effective in preventing people from contracting the novel coronavirus. On Nov. 16, Moderna announced their COVID-19 vaccine to have an efficacy of 94.5%.  I had zero expectations for…

“Disabled” is not a pejorative, but it definitely felt like one when I was growing up. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines disability as “any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain…

Recently, I was playing a question-and-answer game with my partner, and one question that came up was, “What message would you like to tell your younger self?” My answer essentially was about prioritizing and measuring my life by the important things. In my younger years, I had a life plan,…

COVID-19 cases are increasing again here in the U.K., and government officials can no longer prioritize improving the economy over protecting people’s health. Instead, they must acknowledge the toll the virus has taken on people and the pressure a high number of cases will place on the National…

I have felt pretty overwhelmed lately. After months of sheltering at home and being relatively inactive, I’ve suddenly taken on a ton of new responsibilities. I’m trying to get into the habit of having a busy schedule again and managing my time more effectively, but sometimes I feel like I’m…