Maria Mendoza's Story

Guest: Maria Mendoza, a parent and sickle cell disease advocate for her children and other families with SCD children.Maria has 2 children with SCD (Luis, 11 years old, and Andrea, 7 years old) and 1 with SCT.Maria stresses the importance of communicating with her children's teachers about their SCD condition and advocating for their needs.Lack of privacy, understanding from teachers, and potential bullying from classmates can all contribute to the loss of dignity for the child with SCD.Education and awareness are crucial to ensure that employers, educators, and healthcare professionals are knowledgeable about the disease and can provide necessary support.Sickle cell disease affects individuals from various ethnicities and backgrounds.