Tosyn Bucknor shares her inspiring sickle cell story to mark ‘Sickle cell day’

Today is a World Sickle Cell
Awareness Day, an annual reminder that Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a major
area of unmet medical need that causes serious and devastating consequences to
many thousands of children and adults.
Lending a voice, OAP Tosyn Bucknor decided to share her inspiring yet emotional sickle cell story with us!

“It’s
World Sickle Day and it’s a day I can say I am thankful.
Thankful for a dad that would miss work to take me to the hospital, a
mum that would know I was ill before even I knew it and a sister that
was the easiest and the best to live with.
Thankful for the years I spent full of self-pity (why me o Lord), and
the depression, because without battling that, how else would I recognize it in others and help?

Thankful for the turn around. I can never fully explain it, but between
writing poems, stories and thoughts down, I found a breakthrough. And
even though it is uncool to talk about God, I can’t deny that I had a
personal encounter that changed my life.
Thankful because I honestly thought I would be dead by now. I didn’t
think I’d live past 21 so even though I enjoyed school and life, I had
no plans for after. No plans to marry, have kids, work, nothing.

So
imagine my surprise that I’m alive. Lol.
Thankful for Fountain, QC, Unilag, Law School and any institution I have
gone through. Thankful for the people who have employed me, trusted my
brands in their hands without worrying about ‘o I’m hiring a sickler o”.

Thankful that I have a gift and a voice, and even though people think I
should hide it, not be open about it, I am thankful that sickle cell is
not, has never been, and will never be something to be ashamed of.
Thankful for the phrase that changed my life- it is not how long you
live that counts, but how well.

Not everyone’s sickle cell story is the same. That is why we need to
keep talking. We have to #StopTheStigma and #FindACure
I am a #SickleStar”

Today is a World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, an annual reminder that
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a major area of unmet medical need that
causes serious and devastating consequences to many thousands of
children and adults.
– See more at:
https://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/2014/06/fda-salutes-world-sickle-cell-awareness-day/#sthash.6PPIe6pS.dpuf
Today is a World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, an annual reminder that
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a major area of unmet medical need that
causes serious and devastating consequences to many thousands of
children and adults.
– See more at:
https://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/2014/06/fda-salutes-world-sickle-cell-awareness-day/#sthash.6PPIe6pS.dpuf