Today, June 19th, is World Sickle Cell Awareness Day.
From Tionne "T- Boz" Watkins, a singer in the girl group TLC, to Prodigy, a rapper and former member of the hip-hop duo, Mobb Deep, there are over 2 million sickle cell patients in the United States.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a red blood cell disorder that changes the shape of the red blood cells. The cells are supposed to be disc-shaped, but SCD changes them into a crescent, or sickle, shape. The sickle-shaped cells can stick to vessel walls, causing blockages that can slow or completely stop the flow of blood.
1 in 13 Black or African-American babies is born with the sickle cell trait (SCT) and sickle cell disease (SCD) affects approximately 8 percent of African-Americans.
Although the narrative of sickle cell anemia is often accompanied by sympathy and heartbreaking images, three strong women, who are a part of the Sikcell Twitter Community, are seeking to change the narrative by sharing their stories. With The Warrior Series, photographer Bukky Adeyokunnu wants to show the world that they are warriors, not victims to their disease.
They are more than a statistic. Check out their stories of truth and triumph below.
Beatrice
"Being born with Sickle Cell Anemia has its ups and downs. This disease has humbled me, and through that humility, I've developed a better spiritual relationship with God. My image represents a fighter who wins. Yes, I may fail and go through pain, but during those times, I know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I fight through it, refusing to stay stagnant, and walking equipped with the full armor of God. He never said that we will not go through pain, but rather He will be with during rough times (Isaiah 41:10) This picture represents me being an individual born with Sickle Cell Anemia, fighting, and winning!" - Beatrice Adinlewa, MBA. Owner of Bee Hollywood Studio, LLC
Have you been tested for the sickle cell disease genotype? Learn more about SCD testing here.
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To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
Courtesy
I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
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That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
Courtesy
So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
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