Growing up in South London is a rare experience. There’s a plethora of rich and diverse African and Caribbean communities that have influenced the area’s culture. Word of mouth goes a long way, and sharing stories builds relationships and community. These stories often feature our lived experiences, including the injustices,…
Sickle Sagas – a Column by Dunstan Nicol-Wilson
Experiencing different cultures has made me appreciate how people interact with the world. I’ve been reflecting lately on how culture has influenced my actions, especially my advocacy for sickle cell patients. Both my parents are from Sierra Leone, and I was born and raised in London. Sierra Leoneans have…
This month is special for me. On June 14, I celebrated my third anniversary of writing this column for Sickle Cell Disease News, and June 19 will mark both World Sickle Cell Day and Juneteenth. The past three years have been quite a journey, and I’m…
Many people have asked me how they can be a good friend to someone with sickle cell disease. I’m always willing to give advice, but I include the caveat that my suggestions are what I would appreciate. They may not apply to everyone. That said, I feel like a good…
I celebrated my birthday last month, and I’m grateful to be 31 and see another year. I feel blessed — even though, in recent months, I’ve experienced loss within our sickle cell community. Each loss reminds me that nothing is guaranteed in life. Nonetheless, I’m blessed to have…
One thing I enjoy doing in my life is mentoring young people with sickle cell disease. I decided to become a mentor a few years ago in order to share my experiences and help others avoid the same mistakes I made while managing the disease. Interacting with each…
During a recent weekend, I was hanging out with my friends and catching up on life. One of my long-term guy friends mentioned he had become a blood donor and had been giving blood for several months. However, he couldn’t donate at his last session because of low…
While sickle cell falls under the umbrella of rare disease, it doesn’t feel so rare among my circle of acquaintances. In my community, somebody always knows someone else with sickle cell disease and has a vague understanding of what it is. In the broader community, however, much less is…
It’s the season for new beginnings and expanding on our past successes. I’m grateful to see another year; it’s a blessing and a privilege. In remembrance of those who didn’t make it into the new year, it’s essential to appreciate what they gave us and how they spent their…
Mentoring young people with sickle cell disease has been an enriching endeavor. I’ve learned and shared a lot about how the disease affects people differently. As a result of these differences, I must figure out how to best support each mentee. I recently had a conversation with…
Recent Posts
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- The conversation we avoid: Telling children they have sickle cell disease
- New study finds distinct molecular signatures in newborns with SCT
- Blood test may improve kidney damage detection in children with SCD
- Understanding the impact of leg ulcers in sickle cell disease
- Asthma seven times more likely in SCD children than in unaffected siblings
- 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