Mapillar Dahn-Flemister describes raising children with sickle cell disease like walking on eggshells.
"You just never know when there could be a pain crisis," she said. "My 20-year-old had a stroke when she was only seven. We live every day impacted by sickle cell disease. It's not a day, to be honest, that we are not impacted."
Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited blood disorders that can lead to excruciating pain, organ damage, and a shortened life expectancy.
The Dahn-Flemister family's medical history is a staggering testament to the severity of the condition. Together, Mapillar's three daughters have experienced over 200 hospital visits, multiple surgeries, and monthly blood transfusion therapy.