Imagine spending a childhood being hospitalized between six and 12 times a year, every year. This was the reality for now 23-year-old Daniel Cressy, who was born with sickle cell disease.
The disease led him to have significant symptoms, including severe abdominal and chest pain, as well as fevers. Additionally, Cressy had a difficult time running around with other kids or playing sports because sickle cell disease led him to become easily fatigued. And as he got older, it seemed as if the blood disorder might take away his dream of becoming a pilot.