With 2025 in my rearview mirror and 2026 ahead of me, I’ve found myself reflecting deeply on the past year. Living with sickle cell disease has never been easy, but 2025 marked a decisive shift for me. For the first time in a long while, I stopped allowing sickle cell to sit at the center of every decision I made about my life. Instead of constantly asking what my condition might take away from me, I began asking what kind of life I want to build alongside it.
2025 began with travel, first to the United States and then to Mexico. For many people, travel is spontaneous and carefree, but when you live with a chronic illness, it often requires careful planning and self-awareness. Even so, experiencing new cultures and cuisines brought me immense joy. Over the years, I have grown into a true foodie, and food has become one of the ways I connect with people and places. Sitting at a table in a new country, trying unfamiliar dishes, reminded me that pleasure and curiosity still belong in my life, even when my body has limits.