The cost of connecting with others in the sickle cell community
I'm grateful for social media, but it has resulted in more grief
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“We lost a gentle soul yesterday. Rest warrior Daryl Rosborough.”
Reading that sentence as I checked my Facebook first thing in the morning felt like a ton of bricks crashing down on me. Daryl was more than a friend; he was like an older brother to me. Sadly, he passed away on July 13, just three days before his 49th birthday. Like me, Daryl was a sickle cell warrior.
That’s the thing about social media. It keeps you connected to friends, allowing you to see their children grow up, celebrate milestones together, and catch up on occasional drama. But it also has drawbacks. Being connected to so many others who are also living with sickle cell disease is a wild emotional roulette.
Joy and grief
Seeing my friends struggling with pain, being hospitalized, receiving poor treatment, and ultimately passing away takes a toll. I met Daryl on Facebook before we eventually met in person and formed a friendship. Facebook is also where I learned of his untimely passing.
It’s hard to escape negative emotions on social media. Not only must I navigate racial injustice, social injustice, and our crazy political climate, but I also have to combat grief regularly because I’m connected to the sickle cell community. Every “rest in peace” post is soul-crushing for me.
2026 has claimed the lives of three sickle cell warriors I knew and loved. All three were parents with goals and dreams and so much life left to live. But like so many others, they’re now gone.
Losing someone you love is never easy. But when a person dies from the same illness I live with, it’s easy to wonder, “Am I next?”
Despite the grief, I’m still grateful for social media. Prior to finding the online sickle cell community in 2013, this illness made me feel isolated. Back then, I was oblivious to the army of warriors waiting for me to find them. Thanks to the hashtag #TeamSickleCell, I made friends online who I’m still close with today. But I eventually learned that grief was the one downside of finding my comfy corner of the internet.
I dedicate this column to all my sickle cell friends gone too soon, especially Daryl; to each warrior in a hospital bed fighting excruciating pain; to those who feel all alone, like I once did; to the caregiver who feels like no one understands. Together, we’ll combat the joy and grief that come with finding our community.
Note: Sickle Cell Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Sickle Cell Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to sickle cell disease.
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