Surviving Sickle Cell: While Trying to Live Regular - Hardcover

by Kalysia Johnson (Author)

Sickle Cell Anemia is a horrible disease to an outsider looking in. However, to me, it is no different than any other life-threatening disease! The only difference is Sickle Cell Anemia does not get the much-needed recognition it truly deserves. People know little or nothing about the disease because it is not seen as important like other well-known diseases are. I personally have an issue with that problem because I have Sickle Cell Anemia, and I have always been a lifelong advocate for it! Sickle Cell Anemia has affected me as well as many of my family members. There are countless other people in the world who also suffer from Sickle Cell Anemia. I decided to write my personal story because living with this disease has been quite a challenging journey for me, from my childhood until my middle-aged years. I have had both some good days and some bad ones, but God has kept me. So, I won't complain! I feel as if I've been on an emotional roller coaster that has taken me on some highs and lows. It seems like I have been on this ride a million times over, and it simply will not stop. Despite experiencing some periodic turbulence, I have still managed to have some great times on this roller coaster ride! Therefore, I can honestly say, "It's okay! I'm going to ride this 'til the wheels fall off." Plus, I know God will never, ever give me or anyone else more than we can handle! I have also learned how to weather the storms over the years. Early on, I lived my life worried every day because I was told that I was going to die at the age of 17. Accordingly, I lived with that expectation until I surpassed that deadline. Ever since then, I have been living my life without the constant fear of dying at such a tender age. Life is precious, and I live each day to the fullest! Sickle Cell Anemia is only a part of me; it is not the total sum of who I am!

Author Biography

I was born in Waco, Texas and we moved to California twice when I was a little girl. I grew up San Francisco, California and when I was seventeen years old, we moved to Sacramento, California. I moved back to Waco, Texas for almost three years and then I moved back to Sacramento, California. I have been writing since I was five years old. I started out writing poetry as a child and it stemmed into my adulthood. However, when I became an adult, I decided to write short children books, and a few fiction novels. I have always loved to write, because writing brings me peace as well as an escape from reality. I can become any character I want to be when I write I'm a youth director at my church and I have written several plays as well as poetry for the children who are apart of my youth group. I know I'm qualified to write this book because I have the actual disease and know a lot about it. I feel like sickle cell needs a lot more recognition than it actually gets. I have educated myself a lot and am aware of sickle cell anemia and how it affects people. I was born in Waco; Texas and I grew up San Francisco and also Sacramento California. I went to several schools, throughout my life. I have an AA degree in Early Childhood Education, BA degree in Psychology, and a Master's degree in Psychology, and a Post Master's certificate. I went to a four-year community college, and three online schools for my BA degree, Master's degree, and my Post Master's degree. I have been a preschool teacher for the past thirty years. I'm married and have been for the past six years, and I have one child.