Living

As a child, I felt I was the only person in the world with sickle cell anemia. Silly me. It wasn’t completely my fault, though. I hadn’t met anyone else...

I recently got diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It seems the struggles of living with sickle cell keep piling up over the days, from one (unsolved) problem to another. I must...

Last year, I launched a web project titled The Diary of a #SickleCellProdigy – a content series that gives audiences a closer look at a patient's life with and without...

My journey as a sickle cell advocate started 13 years ago, after my husband and I visited the obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) specialist. During the visit, to my surprise, she...

Before medical school, the biggest decisions are deciding if you want to go to medical school, where to apply, and then hopefully, you get into more than one school and...

When we talk about sickle cell disease (SCD), mental health remains a hot topic. I spoke to a mental health advocate about his attitude towards sickle cell awareness. He said...

Today, progress in treating and managing sickle cell disease (SCD) is helping people with the condition live longer than ever before. In the 1970s, the average life expectancy of a...

Do you ever have the feeling that you can't separate your advocate cap from your real life? I often have conversations with patients where I sometimes forget that I'm not...

After my mum's death, I had to go and live with my aunty Mabel. Dad enrolled me in a private school called Kay Billie Klear. It was attended by very...

My many forms of stress include the good and the bad. About a week ago, my motivational stress had me doing too much, as I wanted to repair my vehicle...

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As a child born in Nigeria, I was incredibly fortunate to have my Aunt-in-law, Dr. Dorothy Esangbedo, as my pediatric physician because the quality of care I received was unparalleled...

A support group is simply a gathering to discuss the challenges of a common issue. Members offer consolation, words of encouragement, and support to one another. People living with illnesses...

Self-care is very essential to living and growth. Maintaining the stand to choose yourself every time is a real struggle for most people. Not that they disregard its importance and...

Love isn't just a four-letter word; it is an intense feeling of genuine affection for someone else. Navigating love for someone with a chronic illness is quite challenging because we...

I have a broken heart. It’s crazy because I genuinely thought I was done with those. I thought I had met and was finally with the man I was going...

As a sickle cell advocate, you are sometimes confronted with very difficult situations. For a few months, I also do volunteer work for a hospital that focuses exclusively on adults...

It seems like that is all I know, CHANGE. Over a period of a few months, I have had to change several of my healthcare specialists. For me, it takes...

The weather in the Midwest is just about as unpredictable as sickle cell pain is. It’s March, so it makes sense that it would be a little cold and I...

Content Warning: This article discusses abuse and suicidal thoughts. If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please text or call National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or...