Sickle Sagas — Dunstan Nicol-Wilson

Reserved, calm, and quiet are adjectives that have been used to describe me at some point, and I’d say they’re pretty accurate. I usually step out of my shell only when I’m around people I’m comfortable with or in a one-on-one situation. In group settings, I tend to be more…

An eight-hour flight, a three-hour boat ride, a six-hour bus ride, and then a two-hour hike up a mountain: This is the journey I would take if I decide to visit extended family in one of the more remote parts of Cameroon. It would be a challenging, long, and arduous…

Note: This column includes thoughts about suicide. Resources for help are listed at the end of the column. Recently, I was privileged to speak at the Smile of a King Foundation, which was formed in London to support the mental health of Black men. It honors Tashan King, a…

Research is essential for change. For example, researching different diets and exercise regimens has helped me learn how to better manage my sickle cell disease. I’m open to discovering new techniques because no one drug or treatment will work for everyone. I’m also keen to learn about…

For me, stress is one of the biggest triggers of sickle cell crises. As a child, it wasn’t easy to identify when or why I was stressed. Although I try to do this now as an adult, I tend to ignore stressors until it’s too late. Stress can come…

I’ve been reflecting on what it means to have an invisible condition. Sickle cell disease is often called an invisible illness because you can’t immediately see it and it’s poorly understood. Life would be easier if people could tell that I had sickle cell and not make assumptions…

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 on Me,” but this line struck me. As someone with sickle cell disease, my stance…

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 disease. This week, I’ll be speaking on Instagram about love and sickle cell. To…

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 future change and leave a lasting impression on healthcare professionals. In preparation, I have reflected on…

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 the new year and wasn’t excited about what was to come. These feelings are far removed…

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 a 3-year-old’s birthday party. I was a pretend patient for the newest toddler doctors and at…

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 that period? I was fearless and ignorant of my limitations. I thought I was invincible.