The greatest moments in my life were learning that I would be a father. I have three awesome children: Jetta, James II, and Jaleece. Notice the theme with the spelling of the names. My two youngest, James and Jaleece, are my Sickle Cell Warriors because both were diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) at birth.
Before I can share how my pain became my purpose, I will share a little about SCD. SCD is a red blood cell disorder. It is passed when both parents have the Sickle Cell trait or the disease. MeShawn, my wife, and I both have the trait. It is not a disease you can catch, and those with it are not contagious. People without SCD have healthy red blood cells that are round, bendable, smooth, and can pass through your blood vessels, carrying oxygen to your body very easily. People with SCD have blood cells that are sickle-shaped or curved, stiff, and sticky, which means they do not pass through the blood vessels very easily or carry oxygen to the body easily. The sickled cells pile up and block blood flow, which may prevent organs from getting the oxygen they need. Many times, people with SCD have excruciating and debilitating pain, which is referred to as a ‘Sickle Cell Crisis’ or ‘Sickle Cell Pain Attack.’
Now that I have shared a little about the disease, I can better explain the ‘pain’ of my ‘Pain to Purpose.’ As a father, there is absolutely nothing I would not do for my children, and I cannot begin to explain the pain and powerlessness I feel when they experience a pain attack. It is difficult to watch your children hurting, and you can’t do anything to relieve the pain they are feeling.
Although the feelings of pain and powerlessness when they are sick have not subsided since their childhood, I have been able to turn them into my purpose. We have been very blessed to have them receive great pediatric care at the University of Michigan and the University of Iowa hospital systems as they were growing up. My wife and I have worked hard to educate ourselves and stay engaged in the latest research and advances with regard to Sickle Cell. As part of our education, we learned how critical blood transfusions, diverse blood donors, and funding are for Sickle Cell patients.
The knowledge we have learned from dealing with Sickle Cell for over 28 years is what drives my purpose. The inclusive culture at Arconic and the desire to have employees bring their whole selves to work is continuing to allow me to grow in my purpose both at work and outside of work. My purpose is now clear:
- Increase Sickle Cell awareness.
- Increase the number of diverse blood donors.
- Increase the awareness for additional and increased funding for Sickle Cell Disease research.
I am excited that the momentum is growing, and great things are yet to come.