Most COVID-19 restriction laws were lifted in England on July 19. This includes mask requirements, social distancing rules, work-from-home guidance, and the rule of six, or the maximum number of people allowed at a social gathering. July 19 has been dubbed “Freedom Day” here in the U.K., but I…
Shaniqua’s Sickle Chronicles
— Mary Shaniqua
Mary Shaniqua is a sickle cell patient (HbSS) living in the United Kingdom. She was diagnosed with sickle cell at 18 months old and uses “Shaniqua’s Sickle Chronicles” to narrate her experiences, to educate healthcare professionals, as well as empower and embolden other sickle cell patients. Mary Shaniqua is committed to raising awareness of sickle cell and its impact, with an aim to educate non-haematological specialist healthcare workers and the general public more widely on the life of a sickle cell patient.
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Living with sickle cell disease requires more of a patient than just managing symptoms. One major necessity is the ability to effectively communicate one’s needs. Self-advocacy is a lifelong skill that enables people with the disease to effectively navigate healthcare systems, educational settings, workplaces, and personal relationships. When nurtured…
One of the many stereotypes of British people is that we can be extremely reserved. In many places in the world, it is common for people to greet one another on the street each morning. This is rare in the U.K., specifically in the southern part of the nation. If…
World Sickle Cell Day is upon us tomorrow, June 19. Following are memories that illustrate sickle cell’s ugly grip on my reality. *** The year was 2018 and the British Society for Haematology Annual Scientific Meeting booked me to speak about sickle cell pain management. I live…
One of the most annoying things about sickle cell disease is that a hospitalization can occur with very short notice. I might be fine one moment only to become severely ill the next, often without any heads-up from my body. Therefore, it is important to be prepared. Because I…
It has been a while since I last wrote. This is because unfortunately, I had another hospital admission. I was admitted in mid-April and discharged last week, so I was hospitalized for quite some time. I had a sickle cell crisis, although I’m uncertain about what caused it. I…
I want to start by stressing that I do not believe a booming career is the only parameter of success. I have previously written about what success means to me and how sickle cell disease has shaped my outlook on it. Having a successful career is a goal that…
I am scheduled to have a blood transfusion today. So, I want to take this opportunity to explain how I prepare and what this means for me. I have previously written about my treatment and medication regimen. In that column, I explained that I underwent exchange blood transfusions…
I have not felt well recently. I have been struggling with a lot of pain from sickle cell crises. In normal circumstances, I think I would have gone to the hospital at least once in the past two weeks, based on the amount of pain I have been in.
In my last column, I shared tips about dating with sickle cell disease. Continuing in the spirit of the Valentine’s Day season, I wanted to discuss in this column tips for those of you who wish to date someone with sickle cell. I have found that this topic isn’t…
One thing people always ask me is how I navigate dating as a sickle cell patient. Since we’ve now entered the month of love, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, what better time for me to write about dating while chronically ill? From the start, I am very open…
In a previous column, I mentioned some of the good things that happened to me last year. This included a decrease in my iron levels and my subsequent switch from Desferal (deferoxamine mesylate) subcutaneous infusion pumps to Exjade (deferasirox) tablets. This was one of my greatest highlights of…
Just like that, 2020 is over. What a year! I do not think 2020 turned out as expected or planned for anybody at all. When the year started, I had really low expectations. I did not expect a pandemic, but I also did not start the year with a list…
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