Yep, both parents have the trait…
I was born a sickly child. I was told I couldn’t have children (I did have 3 & each birth had me in the High Risk Clinic). Sickle Cell Disease is just one of the illnesses I arrived to this existence with. It also came with Spinal Stenosis & Ledderhose Disease (which has caused Metatarsalgia in both feet). So in Layman’s Terms, I was born with f×@$×d-up blood & bones. I can recall men saying I had a sexy, badass walk. I bet! I was disabled 😂🤣😅 Running & Jumping were not activities I participated in for I always ended up on the ground. So if you ever see me running? Ask no questions & run like hell!!! It has to be a life or death situation, trust me😅😅😅. Hey? You have to find humor when crying starts to become a pain in the ass.😉
But on a more serious note, I can’t begin to explain the pain I was ALWAYS in (still am, gets worse as one gets older). The anger all the time, flashing of colors & partial blackouts, and the constant pain from my skull to my toes. Even the bones in my nostrils & ears hurt. Nosebleeds were common in my childhood as well. I kept it to myself. I knew something was wrong, but never sure what it was exactly. My parents were clueless. No one in my family ever knew, not until last year.
As I’ve shared a few times, I was abused in unimaginable ways for a long time, living on the streets in NYC at the age of 11(my parents had their own issues). My childhood & teenage years were horrifically painful and parts of my adulthood weren’t any better. My conditions surely magnified EVERYTHING. It affected every facet of my life. I hate pity and being born to Jamaican parents, illnesses were not an excuse to not keep going (this too has its positive & negative effects). Many bush remedies did nothing for a 3 year old with back to back fevers of 104. The constant beatings with all types of objects didn’t help either. Many of my doctors asked me how in the world I was still walking? It’s that Jamaican Tenacity 🇯🇲😉🇯🇲
My posts aren’t as regular, because the pain at times is crippling to say the least. I’m getting the help I need, but it’s imperative that we stay on top of our health, seek answers even when people, family & doctors insist that you’re nuts. Only you, know you. I don’t do pity parties, so please don’t feel sorry for me. As difficult as my existence has been, I’m still living my best life. Heck, it’s the only one that I have. Pain and all? I’m a very happy woman, finally.
Adult Sickle Cell Program – 24hr Emergency Hotline: 1(412)692-4724
https://www.upmc.com/Services/sickle-cell/contact
For Children:
https://www.drugs.com/cg/sickle-cell-disease-in-children.html
“We’re All In This Thing Called Life, TOGETHER…Remember?”❤💛💚
