For World Sickle Cell Day, Read About My Reality
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…
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.
Featured Post
Why it’s important to celebrate good care when we receive it
I’ve previously written about the difficulties I’ve sometimes faced when trying to get my prescriptions filled to treat sickle cell disease. In a stroke of luck about a year ago, I found a…
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How to Prepare Ahead of Time for Sudden Hospitalizations
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…
Why We Need Better Doctor-patient Communication
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…
How to Cultivate a Successful Career While Living With Sickle Cell Disease
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 a Top-up Blood Transfusion Looks Like for Me
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…
It’s Difficult to Manage Sickle Cell Pain at Home During a Pandemic
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…
Here’s How You Can Be a Better Partner for a Sickle Cell Patient
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…
Here’s What I’ve Learned About Dating With Sickle Cell Disease
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…
Sickle Cell May Knock Me Down, but I Will Stand Back Up
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…
2020 Was Challenging, but I’m Grateful for My Progress
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…
Tips for Staying Healthy This Holiday Season
Here’s a little fun fact about me: Christmas is my second favorite time of year after August, which I like because it’s one of the hottest…
Switching Treatments Helped to Reduce My Iron Overload
Iron overload is a side effect that some sickle cell patients suffer from as a result of blood transfusion programs being used as long-term…
