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by Wunmi Bakare for Health Union The other day I was speaking to a dear friend and we found ourselves digging up the "Ex files," thinking of love lost and love won. As we reflected on the mistakes we made, I remembered the first true heartbreak I ever experienced in my early 20s. One that involved an abrupt ending, without any form of closure, all because I withheld my sickle cell diagnosis . Choosing to tell this story is quite hard because my heart and self-worth never trul

by Wunmi Bakare for Health Union Feeling alone As I continue to foster relationships with fellow advocates, one thing rings true for all of us – we grew up not knowing any other person living with sickle cell disease (SCD). This is a common theme for patients in the US and outside its borders. I believe it's due to the fact that sickle cell is still a highly-stigmatized disease even in the 21st century. Oftentimes, the social isolation that patients face, as they transition

by Wunmi Bakare for Health Union At the end of each year, many people reflect on their personal accomplishments - reviewing wins, losses, successes, and failures - intently taking a closer look at their real life. In the last decade, we've had to qualify the term 'real life' because of the social media smokescreens and illusions. If we're totally honest, it's the modern-day version of a magic trick. The line between real and virtual depictions of reality has blurred. Two iden

by Wunmi Bakare for Health Union My name is Wunmi and I'm a foodie! Carbs, snacks, and sugary drinks are the way to my heart. I mean the heart wants what it wants and I need someone to look at me the way I look at food. As you can already tell, my nutritional habits living with sickle cell disease were awful. Just as much as SCD was my muse, it was also the source of all blame. In the morning, I'd swear I couldn't keep my meds down without a can of Sprite. At lunch, I'd ask