We Go Through Life at Our Own Pace
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…
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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Managing Expectations About Life With a Chronic Illness
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…
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Why I Will Be Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine
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…
‘Disabled’ Is Not a Bad Word
“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…
Preparing for Lockdown 2.0
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…
When Feeling Overwhelmed, Here’s How I Reduce Stress
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…
While My Health Challenges Are Tough, I Smile Through Life
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,…
Why I Share My Health Journey on Social Media
I share much about my journey with sickle cell disease on social media. I find it to be a handy tool in raising awareness, because it allows me to do so many things. For example, I…
How to Be a Good Friend to Someone With Sickle Cell
Friendships are beautiful and make life much more meaningful. I love being in the company of friends. They have been a blessing in many ways, especially when it comes to my health. For a long time, I didn’t talk…
Saying I’m Fine When I’m Not to Avoid the Hospital
Needing to go to the hospital due to a vaso-occlusive crisis is never ideal or pleasant. As a kid, the idea of going to the hospital was a nightmare to me. I never really understood the importance of…
I Started Going Outdoors More, but Soon Changed My Mind
After many months of sheltering in place, or shielding, as we call it here in the U.K., the time finally came for me to leave my house for reasons unrelated to medical issues. The government had paused shielding…
Thinking Ahead by Cultivating Healthy Habits Now
Having a lifelong condition like sickle cell disease forces people to grow up pretty quickly. We must acknowledge certain responsibilities early on, and we can’t afford to ignore them because we don’t want ignorance to worsen our health.
My 2 Hopes for Sickle Cell Awareness Month
Just like that, it’s September again – aka Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Sickle cell awareness means shining a light on sickle cell warriors and revealing what life is like with the condition. Not just the…
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