Hi there! This fundraiser is for my brilliant, compassionate, resilient friend Sophia! We are raising money due to her recent job loss and Gene Therapy for her sickle cell anemia.

 Sophia has lived with sickle cell anemia with grace and poise. She is in a Gene Therapy trial to attempt to treat her condition and reduce or eliminate her sickle cell crises and symptoms. 

Despite her condition, Sophia perseveres and lives a life in service to others as a beloved counselor, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. This GoFundMe will prayerfully help relieve some of her growing medical and living costs associated with sickle cell disease and recent job loss. Join me friends, and let's blow her socks off with support!!

Funds Will Be Used For:

• Cost of living expenses when out of work for the clinical trial
• Doctors appointments
• Medical debts
• Medical supplies
• Groceries or meal prep services when recovering from the procedure or out of commission due to sickle cell
• Living costs when out of work/limited by sickle cell crises and symptoms
• Transportation costs to appointments

Sickle Cell Background:

According to the NIH, sickle cell disease (SCD), otherwise called sickle cell anemia, impacts roughly 100,000 people in the U.S. and 20,000,000 people around the world. Those with SCD inherit the condition which affects patients' red blood cells. The condition causes some of the red blood cells to take on a "sickle" or half-moon shape instead of a round donut shape. When the cells take this shape they can more easily cause clotting because they become hooked and cannot move smoothly through blood vessels. 

As clots form this results in episodes of truly unspeakable pain throughout the body known as sickle cell crises. When Sophia has a sickle cell crisis she often requires hospitalization for a week or more to receive the proper medication and sometimes blood transfusions. 

Sophia bears the costs of her medical care and hospitalizations in addition to loss of income when she is out of work. (Though anyone who knows her knows she regularly works through pain as long as she is able.)

However, the impacts of her sickle cell do not end with sickle cell crises. Over time Sophia has also endured hearing loss due to a stroke as a result of sickle cell among other ongoing symptoms. With unparalleled humility, she continues to live with patience, work with wisdom, love without bounds, learn with an open mind, and advocate for herself and others with grace. 

To know her is to see love and understanding personified. Thank you for helping me honor Sophia and prayerfully lift a burden. She also personally extends many gracious and humble thanks to all who read, share, donate, or pray on her behalf.

All prayers, shares, and donations are welcome!