One thing I've always been deeply aware of, even as a child, is the emotional toll sickle cell can place not just on me but on those who care for me. Back then, I didn't have the language to explain it, but I felt it deeply. It was a kind of hyper-awareness, an emotional weight I carried silently. I knew that whenever I fell ill, whenever a crisis hit, it didn't just affect me. It affected everyone around me, especially my mom.