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Jackie

Home / Faces of SCD / Jackie

Sick Cells interviewed Jackie, an SCD warrior in the healthcare field, on her experience living with sickle cell disease, and her support system or “dream team” that helps her through it.

What would be some advice you wish somebody had given you, going through or battling sickle cell disease? And what advice would you give other sickle cell disease warriors or caregivers or advocates?

Don’t let it control you. It’s a part of your life, but live with it, get back up, keep it going.  Take care of yourself. Find someone that’s going to speak for you. Let them know what you want, what you need. Get it written down if you have to, but just have a great support team.

How would you describe your support system as you have lived with sickle cell disease?

Oh. Growing up, it was kind of rough. I had a very strong mother and grandmother that believed in home remedies. So from my mother, I married my husband. My husband, now my children, so I call them my dream team.They know me, they speak for me, and they make sure that I’m right, I’m good.

What is one thing you wish people knew about people that have sickle cell disease?

Just educate yourself and listen to that patient, listen to that person when they tell you that they’re in pain. You might not see it or see any signs or whatever, but just educate yourself and try to listen to that patient and go from there.

Is there any part of your story that you wish people knew when they first look at you or get to know you?

That I’m real. I’m real, my pain is real. Like I said, listen to us, understand us. And I wish that the doctors and the nurses and the pharmacy, we all work together to make this a better… You know? Educate better about sickle cell.

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