For many young people, summer has come to an end and the new school year has begun. School, no matter the grade or level, comes with both mental and physical challenges. It’s important that we equip children with sickle cell disease with the knowledge and tools they need to…
Her Sickled Journey — Tito Oye
Tito is a 23-year-old London-based tenancy manager and lover of life. For as long as she can remember, she’s had a passion for helping others. She writes to help others realize that sickle cell doesn’t need to define their entire identity.
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Now that the summer months have passed, I find that it’s harder to forget that I have sickle cell disease. You may be thinking, “How can she ever forget that she has sickle cell?” Well, I never really forget, but there are times when looking after myself requires less…
I recently started a new job with a charity, and my new colleagues are hands down the most understanding group of people I have ever worked with. I’ve always felt the need to avoid the subject of my health during job interviews, but, as with my previous job,…
As a child, the ground seemed like a sure thing. It was reliable and unshakeable, no matter how hard I jumped on it and no matter what I dropped. You can imagine my surprise when I learned about earthquakes. I couldn’t believe that something as strong, solid, and firm as…
Just when you think sickle cell disease can’t get any stranger, it does. Growing up, I had a habit of eating tissue and paper that continued until I was about 15. (I’m really exposing myself here.) It makes sense how such a habit could arise. As babies, we…
Previously, I’d never been in a room with more than five sickle cell warriors at a time, and those I’ve met have always been about the same age as me. But last week, I had the privilege of participating in a discussion about sickle cell disease at a National Health…
Yesterday, I was reminded why it’s so beneficial to talk with other people in the sickle cell community. Producers from the YouTube channel Make It Common asked me to participate in an episode about sickle cell disease. They invited five people with the condition, including fellow Sickle Cell Disease…
As a child growing up with sickle cell disease, constant trips to the hospital gave me the perception that the doctors and nurses in charge of my care were superhuman, and they always provided me with quality care. It seemed there was no issue they couldn’t fix. I…
Because sickle cell disease affects people differently, I’ve never met two people with the disease who have the same story. A quick Google search can introduce someone to the basics of sickle cell, such as its biology and common triggers, but understanding its differences and the ways it…
In last week’s column, I wrote about ways to reduce the chance of catching a viral infection. I followed my own advice to the letter, yet I still managed to catch something. Just my luck. The past few days, I have had a sore throat, cough, chest…
Well, summer in the U.K. seemed to last all of 2 seconds. Now we are back to colder weather, shorter days, and higher heating bills. As the colder seasons arrive, those of us with sickle cell disease need to be more intentional about looking after ourselves. The cold may expose…
We are in the middle of Sickle Cell Awareness Month, and I can look back on my time as a sickle cell advocate and feel extremely proud about how far we’ve come as a community. When I started raising awareness about sickle cell disease by sharing my…
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