Kevin's Patient Story: Sickle Cell

I’m Kevin Wake, a 57-year-old sickle cell warrior living in Kansas City, Missouri, with my husband and our three rescue dogs.

Sickle cell is a genetic blood disorder that affects red blood cells. Instead of being round, the cells are shaped like a banana or a sickle, which causes them to get stuck together and block blood flow. Because of that, most patients also live with anemia.

I was diagnosed with sickle cell by mistake. My older brother became very sick and passed away unexpectedly. During his autopsy, doctors discovered he had sickle cell disease. Two days later, I was tested and diagnosed as well. My younger brother John was born two and a half years later and diagnosed at birth.