DISCLAIMER
The information and materials accessed through or made available for use on any of our Sites, including, any information about diseases, conditions, treatments, or medicines, are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and your participation on our Sites does not create a healthcare professional-patient relationship. You should consult a doctor or other qualified health care professional regarding any questions you have about your health or before making any decisions related to your health or wellness. Call your doctor or 911 immediately if you think you may have a medical emergency.compose your message
message sent
email sent successfully
Trusted Resources: Community Center
Online groups, photo galleries and blogs
Living With Unpredictable Pain: A Sickle Cell Disease Story
Growing up, Vismel Marquez wanted to join the police department and eventually work his way up to detective. Now almost 22, Vismel, says he knew that his dream job wasn’t to be. It wasn’t that he lacked the drive, courage or smarts. The fault is in his genes.
Vismel was born with sickle cell anemia. This inherited disease causes a mutation in hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. The defective hemoglobin causes some red blood cells to shape-shift, transforming from healthy donut-shaped cells that move easily through the bloodstream into scrawny, sickle-shaped versions. And because these misshapen red blood cells are rigid and sticky, they can’t move through the small blood vessels (microvasculature).
Related Content
-
news & eventsThe Empowered Caregivers Forum: A Support Resource for Parents / Caregivers of Warriors With Sickle Cell / Thalassem...Join Carla Lewis, CEO of Kids Conquering...
-
videos & visualsSickle Cell Emergency Room Care: From Patients to Providershttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_conti...
-
people & placesSulzner Sickle Cell Anaemia FoundationSulzner Sickle Cell Anaemia Foundation i...
-
videos & visualsFacebook Live: Stem Cells and Sickle Cell Diseasehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPzNx8i_...
-
videos & visualsImproving the Lives of Americans With Sickle Cell Disease Roundtablehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhSPkDA1...
-
people & placesCrimsonBow Sickle Cell InitiativeCrimsonBow is a faith based non-governme...
-
people & placesJohn James, OBEJohn James is the chief executive of the...
send a message
To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.