My name is Fitz-Ann Howell and at the young age of 5 months, I was diagnosed with sickle cell disease. The years leading up to my 28th year of life with this disease have been a whirlwind, to say the least. I can truly say that I have been impacted both negatively and positively.
It is expected that yes, the pain and stress of this disorder are a lot to handle and are definitely the worst side of the disease. Although this disease has given me so much negativity, it has also given me lifelong friendships with people who understand what I go through, opportunities that I would not have received otherwise, and inner strength that I didn’t know that I had.
One thing that I would like others to understand is sickle cell isn’t a death sentence and shouldn’t be seen as such because people are living full lives with this disease every day. With the help of SCAGO, I have been given opportunities such as becoming a member of the Patient Advisory and Advocacy Council (PAAC) and I have even been a speaker in various events advocating for warriors such as myself. They have also helped me in receiving bursaries to aid in me pursuing my career.
