Today is World Sickle Cell Day. This day was established to educate the public about sickle cell disease and preventative measures.
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disease in which red blood cells are not able to carry adequate oxygen throughout the body. The blood cells form into a rigid and sticky crescent moon shape – a sickle shape which makes it hard from them to travel through the blood vessels.
There is no definitive cure for this disease. While I don’t suffer from this, I know people that do. It was part of the inspiration for a character in my debut novel, Moment of Truth.
For more information about the disease, please visit this website: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sickle-cell-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355876