New Beginnings Settling InAfter my European escapade and tour of the Midwest I moved into my new apartment in Indianapolis. Moving is so unnecessarily stressful from apartment hunting to tours and applications. I...reactionscomments
Sleeves Up for Sickle CellSickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. In the United States alone, it is estimated that more than 100,000 people live with this...reactionscomments
The Importance of Sickle Cell Caregiver Education and How to HelpIt has been almost 2 years since my little princess was diagnosed with chronic back pain. In several articles, I have shared my experience and I believe that it is...reactionscomments
Embracing a Holistic Lifestyle with Sickle CellLiving with sickle cell is a unique journey that often requires careful consideration of various aspects of our health and well-being. Transitioning to a holistic lifestyle can be both empowering...reactionscomments
Nurturing Meaning and PurposeLife is full of ups and downs, and declining health can sometimes make it challenging to maintain a sense of meaning and purpose. Finding meaning and purpose in life has...reactionscomments
Here We Go AgainThe last time I talked about love over two years ago, I thought I had met the one. What a cliche. I'm not sure if there is just one right...reactionscomments
The Best Part of Living with Sickle Cell That You Might Be IgnoringWhy do some people think nothing good can come from living with sickle cell? They feel like every day is miserable for someone living with this disease. Maybe they need...reactionscomments
How to Prepare Your Child With Sickle Cell To Have a Safe and Enjoyable SummerSummer is a time for fun and adventure, but for sickle cell caregivers, it can also be a time of increased worry. With the warmer weather comes outdoor activities like...reactionscomments
Withdrawing from Those Around MeWhen my pain levels rise, I tend to withdraw from those around me. What comes to my mind is the safety mechanism of the turtle when the turtle has to...reactions6comments
My Child's Testing & Appointment ScheduleI often talk to parents about sickle cell disease (SCD), even if they do not have a child with SCD. I recently had an interesting conversation with a mom, and...reactions5comments
The Placebo EffectOur minds are really amazing. They can make us believe we’re not in pain when we should be or that we are in pain/danger when we’re not. I really believe...reactions8comments
The Rise and Fall of My Mental Health With Sickle CellWe all know that mental health and mental health issues are not talked about enough and I feel like it is because it is not encouraged in many homes, especially...reactions6comments
Educating Our Kids Living With Sickle CellI am proud to announce that my newest children's book will be published in the summer of 2023. It will be a special book that I wrote together with my...reactions3comments
How Parents of Children with Sickle Cell Disease Can Find Intimacy and ConnectionI'm the mother of a child with sickle cell disease (SCD), and a few weeks ago while chatting with another sickle cell parent, she asked me about sickle cell and...reactions4comments
A Warrior's Perspective on Mother's DayMy mother and I have a complicated relationship. I am not sure there is a mother-daughter relationship in existence that is not complicated. Treading the delicate balance between parent and...reactionscomments
The Three Year Transplant UpdateI can't believe it's been 3 years since my transplant. For most of my life, I thought sickle cell pain would always take center stage in my life, dictating where...reactions9comments
Changing Roles: Allow Me to Reintroduce MyselfAs of April 22, 2023, around 11:53 am, my life forever changed. I went from being Halimat Shadia Owolobi Olaniyan – author, philanthropist, sickle cell warrior and all-around pretty cool...reactionscomments
My Medical Massage ExperienceI try to treat myself periodically to a massage technique called medical massage from a licensed medical massage therapist. A massage therapist rubs and kneads the soft tissues of your...reactions4comments
The Benefits of Sunshine in My LifeI've always thought that there had to be some health benefits of sunshine. Growing up in dull England will make you start to wonder about these sorts of things. I...reactions5comments
A Lonely journeyThis article is for caregivers who sometimes feel lonely or sad. I've thought about it for a long time if it's smart to write about emotions when I'm a bit...reactions2comments
