My daughter , Tiana Dillard, has sickle cell anemia also called Sickle Cell Disease. She is type SS. I have learned a lot in caring for her. My mission is to educate people on the things that sickle cell patients go through. Life is not always easy. They have to live with pain and keep up with the world. Everyone needs to understand this illness better. My daughter is now a grown adult that battles everyday life by dealing with pain and managing her illness. Everyday challenges makes her stronger. She may not look sick but inside her body is fighting every second.. "There is beauty in your cells" touches on just that. Just because she does not look sick does not mean she is not fighting. I created Hope Cells jewelry so that each person can wear a piece of jewelry that makes them smile without forgetting the fight.
10 Commandments of Sickle Cell Disease
July 20, 201010 Commandments of Sickle Cell Disease
1) Accept your disease, Don't Ignore it. Respect it, Don't fear it. Learn how to master it, not let it master you.
2) Take Good care of yourself. There is only one you! Practice healthy eating habits, drink plenty of low sugar/salt fluids, get adequate sunlight exposure and rest, get some aerobic exercise. Take care of you MIND, BODY and SOUL.
3) Pace Yourself. Ifyou overdo it, you will experience pain. Once you master your tolerance levels you will do much better.
4) Remember You CAN do EVERYTHING you want to do, but AWAYS be safe not sorry.
5) Learn to control your pain. Don't let it control you.
6) Develop a focus on some things in this life that brings you joy and satisfaction. Set goals and strive to achieve them.
7) Establish Independence Socially, Emotionally, Economically and Medically. Take charge of your disease.You own your sickle cell, your family and doctors can help you but it is not their disease it's yours."OWN IT!"
8) Establish An Effective Social support Network within and outside your family. Seek supportive relationships with people who accept you as you are with all that comes with you as a package.
9)Don't waste you pain medication. Don't reach for the medicine cabinet. Treatments other than pills can reduce pain. Learn how to tailor the use of pain medication to the degree of pain you have. Over treatment leads to increased pain and reduced effectiveness of the medication and many also reduce your quality of life.
10) Pain Is "A PAIN" But that does not necessarily mean something terrible is happening. All pain is not sickle cell disease and could have other causes.
Posted by Traci Adams.
