The Sickle Cell Crusader - a Column by Oluwatosin Adesoye

It took me a while to realize that intense emotions can lead me to a sickle cell crisis. Most of my health professionals never mentioned it when educating me about crisis triggers. From what I’ve learned as a physician, emotional triggers aren’t researched or documented enough. Hence, the…

Chronic diseases and pain can sometimes take away one’s happiness. They are proven predisposing factors for depression. In my case, sickle cell disease has been challenging. Living with frequent acute pain episodes, chronic pain, and numerous sickle cell complications can easily snuff out your happiness, especially…

I often hear a fascinating question among those living with sickle cell disease, sickle cell advocates, parents, caregivers, etc. — “Can sickle cell disease affect our goals and career choices?” — and I usually find some of the answers as interesting as the question. I’ve heard answers like,…

From my experience, pain is one of the hallmark symptoms of sickle cell disease. In fact, it is its trademark. Unsurprisingly, the translation of sickle cell disease in my Yoruba language is “aro’moleegun,” which denotes “bone pain.” If you have moderate to severe sickle cell disease, pain is…

“I have another patient with sickle cell disease, but she’s not affected as severely as you. What’s wrong with you?” “This person has your same genotype. Why isn’t she experiencing the same sickle cell complications as you are?” “I know a sickle cell warrior who can do this…

“I have sickle cell disease. So what?” That was my reaction as an 11-year-old girl about 24 hours after I learned I had sickle cell disease. Even though I had the disease, I was still the best student in my class and had a lovely family. Apart from…