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.
I recently had a severe sickle cell pain crisis that forced me to go to the hospital for stronger medication than what I had at home. For the record, it’s been three years…
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As I write, a familiar chorus plays in the background, followed by the line, “Please swallow your pride.” Aside from the hook, I’ve never really listened to the lyrics of Bill Withers’ “Lean…
February is often known as the month of love. That makes it an interesting time in the sickle cell community, as I often see differing viewpoints on how to approach dating with the…
For Rare Disease Day on Feb. 28, I’ll be speaking to medical professionals about sickle cell disease and how they can better support our community. It’s a brilliant opportunity to influence…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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