viviane salzman

Wow Valerie!  That is amazing! So many accomplishments. Very proud of you. Do you have SS?  I assume that you do not get sick too often and that is a blessing.

I am 51 years old.  Like you, I enjoy traveling.  I am originally from Haiti but live in the US.  I reside in Massachusetts and I have visited many of the states.  I have been to Asia…[Read more]

Hello all,

My Covid rapid test and PCR both came back negative.  I praise God for that.  Doctor thinks that I have allergies.  I am feeling lot better.  How is everyone doing?

I have not had COVID but I currently have a bad sore throat, and I am feeling unwell.  I will get a Covid test tomorrow.  Will keep you posted.

My parents were unaware of being carriers.  They found out only after I started getting sick.

Yes, I have two cats, and yes, they can be very therapeutic.

Hi guys,

I have some issues with my ears as well.  My hearing is declining and I have been prescribed hearing aids.  I never asked my doctor if it is related to sickle cell😩Good luck Tito.  Please keep us posted.

Well, do you mean if I did not have sickle cell?

Anyway, I live in Massachusetts and I have a good team helping to manage my sickle cell.  If I was a healthy person I would probably live in a warmer climate.  Maybe Hawaii, or San Diego or some very nice city in Florida. You?

Thank you so much Wendell.

Unfortunately, I come to realize that implicit bias plays a major part in my relationship with my mother-in-law.  She is racist and she admits it.  You know how some see us – lazy, ignorant, etc.  She is an educated woman.  She reads more about sickle cell than I do.  She also went with me on an appointment to see my h…[Read more]

Hi Victoria!

I had been wrestling with the idea of quitting my job for three years.  Not because I wanted to but because my body could not handle the stress anymore.  I could not keep working and taking care of myself, of my husband, the house, all at the same time.  I sincerely believe that things became harder for me after my 50th birthday la…[Read more]

Victoria,

Thank you for sharing.

What you wrote describes exactly what I used to go through.  Since the incident with my mother-in-law, I made a promise to be true to myself.  I no longer question myself about how I feel.  When I feel well, I do what I can.  When I feel tired or sick, I stay in bed for as long as I need to.  I do not care anym…[Read more]

Thanks Tito!

Believe him/her when he/she says he/she is in pain. Most of them – sickle cell sufferers – are not drug seeking. Keep him/her warm. Do not assume anything. Do not pity him/her, just be compassionate.

Hi Micheal,
To answer your question, I trust people to a degree but I always want the final say to be my decision – this is not just with my health, rather in every aspect of my life.
For example, I have a hematologist I like deeply, I know he cares but this does not stop me from questioning every decision making. I take doctors’ advice to a…[Read more]

Hi Tito,

Your question really strikes home and I cannot wait to see how others will reply.

It has not been easy lately maintaining a healthy work/life balance. I have been in an out of the hospital this past year. I had a viral infection at the end of 2019 (December 28), then I got diagnosed with influenza A in January 2020. Since then I…[Read more]

For me it is Lewis Capaldi – Someone You Loved. Don’t ask me why, I just like the song.

Hi Tito!

This is awesome! I wish I had this information before as I was in London two years ago.  It was not cheap riding the Metro.  Although I am unsure if this would apply to me since I am not a UK citizen.

I don’t think sickle cell has benefited me in any way.  I, however think that the Lord knows why I have this disease.  I think that my li…[Read more]

Thank you so much for your comment Muwanguzi! Stay blessed.