Her Sickled Journey – Tito Oye

It’s easier said than done. Everyone always says that health should be a person’s No. 1 priority, but it’s not until push comes to shove that we understand the truth of this. I recently realized that my health was not as much of a priority as I was…

Self-love is so important. I read somewhere that we teach others how to love us through the way we love and treat ourselves.  So, I want to ask you: Do you treat yourself with the love you deserve? Do you expect to be shown love from others? Do…

I am passionate about raising sickle cell disease awareness. Increased awareness leads to a better understanding of the condition, which leads to more conversations about it. I believe that this will lead to conversations among people in positions of power, who can then take action to improve our lives.

This week has been challenging for me. A brutal combination of cold weather and stress has left me facing back-to-back sickle cell crises, and there’s no telling when it might end. In the past, I had been known to be quite stubborn about going to the hospital…

I’m writing this column during a sickle cell disease crisis. I have not had one this bad in a while, so I’ve been feeling pretty low. I recently explained to a friend that I hate feeling like I am helpless and wasting time whenever I have a crisis.

I have been writing for BioNews, the publisher of Sickle Cell Disease News, for over a year now. This experience has been amazing, to say the least. When I was first contacted about becoming a columnist, I was skeptical. I questioned whether I would be good…

I hate when sickle cell disease gets in the way of life, although I feel its effects 24/7. There is no escaping the symptoms, such as fatigue and chronic pain, which are less intermittent than the pain crises. But most times I can live with it, I can…

On Nov. 9, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that their COVID-19 vaccine was found to be more than 90% effective in preventing people from contracting the novel coronavirus. On Nov. 16, Moderna announced their COVID-19 vaccine to have an efficacy of 94.5%.  I had zero expectations for…

“Disabled” is not a pejorative, but it definitely felt like one when I was growing up. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines disability as “any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain…

COVID-19 cases are increasing again here in the U.K., and government officials can no longer prioritize improving the economy over protecting people’s health. Instead, they must acknowledge the toll the virus has taken on people and the pressure a high number of cases will place on the National…

I have felt pretty overwhelmed lately. After months of sheltering at home and being relatively inactive, I’ve suddenly taken on a ton of new responsibilities. I’m trying to get into the habit of having a busy schedule again and managing my time more effectively, but sometimes I feel like I’m…

One of my favorite features is my smile, and I find that in life, I have many things to smile about. I have very good people around me who provide an amazing support system, I have a home, I have a job, I live in a country that provides…