Welcome to my Just Giving Page!

September as Sickle Cell Awareness month and I decided to do my bit!

If you don't know, I have Sickle Cell disease,

My Story:

I was diagnosed at 3 years old, as the first person of Asian decent in the North West with the illness. Upon diagnosis I had my spleen immediately removed and subsequently have been on daily medication. Living with Sickle Cell has meant that I have been admitted into hospital every year with excruciating pain aka "crisis" where blood vessels are clogged by the sickle shaped blood cells restricting oxygen flow to organs.

Triggered by stress, cold weather, infections, dehydration, tiredness I have had crisis's so severe one of which kept me in hospital for 8 months, cathertirised and reliant upon machines.

If you know me then you know I am life loving individual always up for a challenge. However, some of the challenges living with Sickle Cell have meant that I have been on drugs stronger then heroin for months, pneumonia, chest syndromes, red cell exchanges, blood transfusions, lung damage, gall stones the list goes on... but to describe a crisis to you, it feels like someone is hammering into your body, or sawing into you, it's absolute torture.

And the mental challenges that come with it have been taxing too! Thinking you're never fit enough, or strong enough as your friends at school, knowing that at any moment you can end up in so much pain (I had a crisis whilst on holiday...bad times!) that you have to think twice about every decision you make, or being cautious of burdening anyone else with your illness.

The money I raise will go to helping children with Sickle Cell. Children who are hospitalised left feeling empty and helpless. I want to reach and visit as many children as possible in hospital and give them gifts, presents and experiences that they wouldn't otherwise have. This is to give them hope, and to give them something to smile about whilst their suffering with a crisis. Because SC isn't a common illness people often get neglected and I want to change that and bring a smile to their faces. I will hopefully be doing the visits around Christmas time, when so many people end up with a crisis because of the cold weather.

I'm aiming to raise £1000 to reach 50 children, so please help me in making this a reality!

I've decided to do the ARCELORMITTAL ORBIT ABSEIL - It's the UK’s highest freefall abseil on the UK’s tallest sculpture!! Taking place on Saturday 14th October @ 3.30pm in Stratford, London. If you want to come and support me you're more than welcome! So please help me in reaching the target goal as I take on this new challenge, anything you can spare will be greatly appreciated.

p.s. If you want to join me then let me know!

Thank you for reading and donating

Sanah x