Source
University of Rochester Medicine
From the day he was born, Gary Burks has been coping with the pain and complications that come with sickle cell disease.
At age 4, Gary had a stroke, which occurs in about 10 percent of children with sickle cell disease. Because of his small veins, he needed a central venous catheter placed in his chest to reduce the blocked blood flow caused by the sickle cells. He’s now routinely tested for iron buildups in his body, which can damage his liver and heart. And he was hospitalized numerous times between birth and age 4 with upper respiratory issues and excruciating pain crises.