My name is Jai and I have the SS genotype which was diagnosed when I was born. I used to get chronic transfusions, used to have a Port-A-Cath (i.e an indwelling catheter for transfusion), I’ve had acute chest syndrome over eleven times and have also had my gallbladder removed. It seems the older I get the more pain I’m in.

I’ve been in the hospital every month since May 2020 whilst being a college student and it was hard doing both. I graduated from college in May and now I am going to nursing school to become a nurse to help advocate for myself and others with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) so that no one else will be in the same position that my best friend was in three days before she passed (she had sickle cell too, was mistreated at the ER and sent home without proper care. she passed three days later at home).

Reference: Richelle J. 2020 “From the diary of _shortieeeee”.