Being the only one in my family with sickle cell anemia, from close to distant relatives, made it extremely hard on everyone else around me, causing undeserved jealousy and resentment from various people on and off the family tree. But when it came down to making sure I was taken care of, protected, or had to go to the hospital, there was no hesitation, which is why it was confusing how the doctors concluded that I was unable to be as sick so frequently and for the length of time each crisis lasted. There were numerous times I stayed home to battle the disease due to the number of hospitalizations piling up, and it began taking more of a toll on my mental state than on my physical state.

My demeanor was that of a soldier coming home after a life full of warfare, full of anger and hatred for being cursed with life, while memories of the fallen and actual unforgiving pain haunts dreams night and day. Even some decisions being made in everyday life are affected. I don t know everything our soldiers encounter or the burden they carry, but I can relate. Thank God for them. Those with sickle cell anemia are not allowed to join the military trust me; I ve tried twice, with no luck. I guess my fight would be more of a distraction that could get in the way of me being all that I could be. There is no way I want to be a kink in our armor or hinder the chain of command for one second on the battlefield. There are several triggers that bring on a crisis from what I know:

Exposure to extreme cold/heat

Dehydration

Overexertion

Poor diet

Smoking/drinking

Stress

These alone hinder peak performance in everyday living, le