Hey Tu Snaps fam! Isis here, and I've got an amazing story to share with you about my recent day at Children's National Hospital in Washington DC. On June 17th, I attended a special event for World Sickle Cell Day. It was a day filled with inspiration, education, and some seriously cool people!
The Power of Knowledge
There were some really great speakers. Dr. Andrew Campbell, the Director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program at Children's National, shared so much valuable information. And Michelle Riley-Brown, the President and CEO of the hospital, inspired us all with her vision for sickle cell care.
Political Power for Change
But it wasn't just medical experts. We had some political powerhouses too! Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland talked about a resolution he's introducing with Senators Cory Booker and Sherrod Brown. They want to officially designate June 19, 2024, as "World Sickle Cell Awareness Day"! AND it’s the same day as Juneteenth. How cool is that?Â
Speaking of Senator Booker, he sent a special video message. It was awesome to see these leaders taking sickle cell awareness to the next level.
Meeting Real-Life Superheroes
But the real stars of the show? The brave warriors fighting sickle cell every day. I got to meet Kendrick Cromer, the first patient in the U.S. to receive a newly approved gene therapy for sickle cell disease. And then there was Nasir Mason, the first to get gene therapy at Children's National as part of a clinical trial. These guys are real-life superheroes! We also heard from Deanna and Bobby Engram from the Bobbi Engram Foundation. Bobby is the WR Coach for the Washington Commanders (go team!), but more importantly, they've been passionate advocates for sickle cell awareness since losing their daughter Bobby to Sickle Cell in 2018. Their daughter, Pheobe Engram who's about my age and a sickle cell warrior herself, spoke too. Talk about inspirational! Check out my Instagram Post about the event
Tu Snaps in Action
Of course, I couldn't leave without spreading some Tu Snaps love. I gave out necklaces to several kid sickle cell warriors. Seeing their faces light up made my whole day. It reminded me why we do what we do at Tu Snaps - to bring joy and raise awareness, one necklace at a time.
Looking to the Future
This event left me feeling so inspired and motivated. It showed me that from doctors and politicians to athletes and everyday warriors, so many people are working hard to fight sickle cell disease. And you know what? Tu Snaps is part of that fight too!
To all my fellow young entrepreneurs out there, remember: your business can be more than just a way to make money. It can be a way to make a difference. That's what Tu Snaps is all about, and days like this remind me why it's so important.
Stay awesome, keep creating, and let's keep fighting for a world without sickle cell disease!
- Isis 🌟
P.S. Want to join our mission to support sickle cell warriors? Check out our special Warrior Heart necklaces on the Tu Snaps website. Remember, for every necklace sold, we donate one to a child with sickle cell disease. Let's spread some love together! 💖