Returning to sickle cell advocacy after a much-needed break
The beginning of this year has been difficult for me because I have felt unmotivated in my sickle cell disease advocacy. At the end of 2022, I didn’t set any concrete goals for…
Sickle Sagas — Dunstan Nicol-Wilson
Dunstan Nicol-Wilson is a clinical project manager from South East London, United Kingdom. Dunstan has his master’s in public health with a global health focus. Dunstan was diagnosed with the “invisible disorder” sickle cell disease from birth in 1993. He hopes that his column will raise awareness for this disease, encourage others to share their stories, and showcase all the ups and downs of living with a rare condition. Dunstan loves anime, cooking, and Manchester United.
Featured Post
How I cope with cold weather as someone with sickle cell disease
It’s almost winter again here in the U.K., and every year I’m shocked by the cold weather and its impact on my body. Winter has always been one of my greatest adversaries, and as…
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Can I Handle Parenting While Having Sickle Cell?
A few weeks ago, I spent a weekend with new family members, and it was the most action-packed weekend I’ve had in a while. I was exhausted by little people! I helped set up…
Continuing My Sickle Cell Disease Advocacy as a Mentor
I recently began training to become a mentor to children with sickle cell disease. As part of the preparation, I’ve reflected on my teenage experiences with sickle cell. What was my mindset during…
My Mind Is Reeling After I Narrowly Avoided a Sickle Cell Crisis
Winter has arrived here in the U.K., and the end of the year is fast approaching. During this period, it becomes difficult to avoid things that can trigger a sickle cell pain crisis,…
Patience Pays Off, Allowing Me to Have Fun While Avoiding a Crisis
In my quest to better manage sickle cell disease, I’ve been thinking recently about the concept of delayed gratification. This involves resisting the impulse to accept an immediate reward in the hope of…
Creating Memories of the Important Things in Life
I can be a slow walker, which is controversial for someone who grew up in the city. The hustle and bustle of city life dictates that somebody, somewhere, is in a rush to get…
Reflecting on Why I Became a Sickle Cell Disease Advocate
My ultimate goal as a sickle cell advocate is for advocacy to no longer be necessary. I’m a private and introverted person and usually prefer to keep to myself. However, as an advocate,…
Pursuing My Dream of Playing Volleyball, One Step at a Time
I’ve recently been asked a couple of times to share something random I’d like to do. I’ve responded that I want to play volleyball. I played the sport a few times in school and…
How I Manage Fatigue With Sickle Cell Disease
My main focus in managing sickle cell disease is preventing vaso-occlusive crises, the symptom I struggle with most. However, due to the seasonal change in weather, fatigue is another common sickle…
How I’m Adapting My Pain Scale to Keep Myself Accountable
Recently, I’ve been trying to recall what the pain from a sickle cell crisis is like. Not remembering must sound a little weird, since a crisis is my most prominent symptom of…
Reflecting on the Past Taught Me Lessons About Mental Health
The mind is a powerful tool. One phenomenon I’ve become aware of in the last year is speech impairment after a sickle cell crisis. It’s as though the volume of my voice has…
Social Media vs. Reality: Behind the Scenes With Sickle Cell Patients
I would love to go on one of the Bali swings I always see on social media and then capture the moment. However, my friend informed me that the reality is that…
