# @childrenscolo on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcw6JaTCf16
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70038669-childrenscolo-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/620de0717d.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-02T00:05:28.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Children's Hospital Colorado (@ChildrensColo) — https://gondola.cc/ChildrensColo

## Caption

For 25 years, Xavius planned his life around pain. 

Cold weather. Travel. Even jumping into a pool could trigger a sickle cell disease crisis. 

Then, in search of new possibilities, he found pediatric hematologist Dr. Christopher McKinney and enrolled in a gene-editing clinical trial here at Children's Colorado. 

After 40 days in the hospital, he arrived at a place he never thought possible: freedom from the pain and limitations that had shaped his life since birth. 

“I didn't have to worry about the things that I did before,” Xavius says. “I could go out in the cold without a coat on and even tried cryotherapy without going through a crisis." 

Today, Xavius is studying to become a physician and looking toward a future that once felt out of reach. 

“Sickle cell is a tough disease and it's really hard to explain to people around you,” Xavius says. “But you can find a way to channel the darkest parts to help someone else and be positive." 

#HereItsDifferent #SickleCellAwarenessMonth #SickleCell #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 763
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 12

## Tags

sicklecell, hereitsdifferent, sicklecellawarenessmonth, childhoodcancerawarenessmonth

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