A 12-year-old boy in the Washington, D.C., area faces months of procedures to remedy his disease. “I want to be cured,” he said.

For a lucky few, like Kendric, the treatment could make possible lives they have longed for. A solemn and shy adolescent, he had learned that ordinary activities — riding a bike, going outside on a cold day, playing soccer — could bring on episodes of searing pain.

“Sickle cell always steals my dreams and interrupts all the things I want to do,” he said. Now he feels as if he has a chance for a normal life.

The key thing is that this class of treatment is a cure. Once done with treatment, the expectation is that he’ll produce enough normal hemoglobin to live normally.

  • Flying Squid
    34•6 months ago

    I really hope this works. I’ve read accounts of people with sickle cell before. I’m a chronic pain sufferer, so I really empathize, although I sure as hell wouldn’t trade my condition for theirs. It sounds much worse.

    • @[email protected]
      8•6 months ago

      Sorry about your pain. I really hope this works too, it’d be absolutely incredible to have a cure for this. Hopefully it can be make accessible to everyone too

      • Flying Squid
        5•6 months ago

        Thank you, but my pain is mostly managed through medication. They can’t do that. Be far more sorry for them.

        Also, my pain is localized. Sickle cell can cause agonizing pain in pretty much any part of your body at any time along with the chronic pain. It just sounds like a horrific way to live.