"She has sickle cell." Keenya Leggette felt chills go down her spine as a doctor shared those four words about her daughter, Isabelle. Both she and her husband responded with puzzled looks. They had so many questions, including: - How could their first child have sickle cell? - Why is it called a disease? - How would it be treated? - Would life for their family ever be the same again? Sickle cell anemia largely affects people of African descent. Red blood cells sickle at any given time. The constant sickling can cause severe pain, and treatment options are limited. The COVID-19 pandemic, the beginning of motherhood, and her daughter's new health condition left the author kind of numb. She and her husband were told they would need to be on the lookout for fever, swelling, and pain. Their daughter would need medicine, hydration, and vigilance. Today, thanks to a bone marrow treatment from her brother, Isabelle is a healthy, spunky young girl with no more sickle cells.
