Sickle Cell Awareness and KisaKisa
Donation protected
When growing up I wanted to be a ballerina, not necessarily because I like to dance or even could dance, I just really liked the outfits that they wore. However, having a disease that causes severe pain in my joints, that career plan was not an option.
I was born with Sickle Cell Anemia an inherited disorder of the red blood cells. Normal red blood cells are round, but in sickle cell anemia, some red blood cells become deformed, so they look like the sickles used to cut wheat.The disease is rare affecting fewer than about 20,000 people a year. There is no cure for the disease, just treatment. The shape of my handbags is a representation of the shape of these blood cells.
Growing up with the disease was very difficult, simple things like playing outside with my friends sometimes caused severe pain in my joints. My parents decided to give me alternatives to physical activities. My mom made sure I had every colored pencil, every marker, every type of construction paper and paint, I was the kid with the largest crayon box with the sharpener on the side (my pride and joy).
Designing ballerina clothes was my first sign of being a fashion designer. I would also often sit in my moms closet and rearrange her handbags and play dress up with them; that is where my love of handbags was born.
After pursuing a long career in real estate, I decided to go back to school and study something that I had a passion for. I currently attend Houston Community College studying Fashion Merchandising. My handbags are unique and different, just like me. When you purchase a KisaKisa handbag a portion of my sales will be donated to The Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation in Austin, Texas (My hometown).
Thank you for all of your support!
Video Produced by: Karissa Lindsay (A Leap of Style)
Clothes Provided by: Karissa Lindsay (www.aleapofstyle.com)
Model: Shanell Turner
I was born with Sickle Cell Anemia an inherited disorder of the red blood cells. Normal red blood cells are round, but in sickle cell anemia, some red blood cells become deformed, so they look like the sickles used to cut wheat.The disease is rare affecting fewer than about 20,000 people a year. There is no cure for the disease, just treatment. The shape of my handbags is a representation of the shape of these blood cells.
Growing up with the disease was very difficult, simple things like playing outside with my friends sometimes caused severe pain in my joints. My parents decided to give me alternatives to physical activities. My mom made sure I had every colored pencil, every marker, every type of construction paper and paint, I was the kid with the largest crayon box with the sharpener on the side (my pride and joy).
Designing ballerina clothes was my first sign of being a fashion designer. I would also often sit in my moms closet and rearrange her handbags and play dress up with them; that is where my love of handbags was born.
After pursuing a long career in real estate, I decided to go back to school and study something that I had a passion for. I currently attend Houston Community College studying Fashion Merchandising. My handbags are unique and different, just like me. When you purchase a KisaKisa handbag a portion of my sales will be donated to The Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation in Austin, Texas (My hometown).
Thank you for all of your support!
Video Produced by: Karissa Lindsay (A Leap of Style)
Clothes Provided by: Karissa Lindsay (www.aleapofstyle.com)
Model: Shanell Turner
Organizer
Kisa Williams
Organizer
Houston, TX
