Managing a life with sickle cell disease is the only life Dima Hendricks has ever known. Dima was born with the genetic blood disorder at a time when newborn screening wasn’t mandated, and because of this, she went undiagnosed until she was 6 months old. The complications and excruciating pain that Dima experiences aren’t always detectable by others. She’s had a stroke, acute chest syndrome, a gall bladder removal, and has been in the ICU more than 100 times. The mental toll is just as painful. “Imagine trying to be normal and trying to act normal, but you feel like a bus is constantly hitting you, or you’re constantly being stabbed,” Dima said. “It does something to your psyche. “I’ve given birth twice. The first time, I gave birth naturally, and the second time, I had a C-section. I’d rather go through both experiences before going through a full-on vaso-occlusive crisis.” She also knows firsthand the importance of blood transfusions to help relieve the pain and prevent further ...