Meet Zakareya (@alkadhem). He is the Chairman of the Bahrain Sickle Cell and battles sickle cell disease. He likes to post pictures of watermelon because it encourages sickle cell patients to eat it everyday to stay hydrated. It is important for sickle cell patients to stay hydrated because it is harder to concentrate urine in those living with sickle cell disease. Sickle cell is global! Help raise #sicklecell awareness by sharing this post. #SickleCell101 #SickleCellisGlobal #SickleCellAwareness #SickleCellEducation

Jazmine @beautywithinsicklecell just received her bachelor's degree while battling sickle cell disease. Against popular belief, sickle cell is not only a black/#African. In fact, according to the CDC #sicklecell occurs in 1 out of every 16,300 #Hispanic -American birth. Catch Jazmine on her YouTube channel, (Beauty Within Sickle Cell) raising sickle cell awareness. Help raise #sicklecell awareness by sharing this post. #SickleCell101 #SickleCellisGlobal #SickleCellAwareness #SickleCellEducation

Meet Malcolm (@malcolmposts). He is an opera singer living in #NewYork. He also has sickle cell trait. There are multiple reported complications that are associated with sickle cell trait. They include blood in urine, kidney complications, reduced blood supply to spleen, muscle breakdown and other complications. This is another reason it is important to test for your genetic status. Sickle cell is global! Help raise #sicklecell awareness by sharing this post. #SickleCell101 #SickleCellisGlobal #SickleCellAwareness #SickleCellEducation

Meet Priscilla (@sick_girl_priscy), a 26 year old living with sickle cell disease. Priscilla loves makeup, tattoos, piercings and all things body modifications, even though she works as a legal assistant. Against popular belief, sickle cell is not only a black/African disease. In fact, according to the CDC sickle cell occurs in 1 out of every 16,300 Hispanic-American birth. Sickle cell is global! Help raise #sicklecell awareness by sharing this post. #SickleCellisGlobal #SickleCellAwareness #SickleCellEducation

Meet Cassandra (@casmopolitan), founder of #SickleCell101. Cassandra is a mom that lives with sickle cell disease. In sickle cell disease red blood cells become crescent shaped and causes blockage in blood vessels and limiting oxygen to tissue and vital organs. This can cause complication including mild to severe pain and complications such as stroke, acute chest syndrome, retinopathy and joint damage. Sickle cell is global! Help raise #sicklecell awareness by sharing this post. #SickleCellisGlobal #SickleCellAwareness #SickleCellEducation

Meet Enas (@enasgroof). She battles sickle cell disease and works as a coordinator. In her free time she loves to travel. Sickle cell is global! Help raise #sicklecell awareness by sharing this post. #SickleCell101 #SickleCellisGlobal #SickleCellAwareness #SickleCellEducation

Meet siblings Kyle and Michelle. They both live with sickle cell disease. Kyle is a sports fanatic, while Michelle enjoys art. These siblings are of Italian descent. According to GAPHA, sickle cell disease occurs in about 1 in every 100,000 Caucasian births. Help raise #sicklecell awareness by sharing this post. #SickleCell101 #SickleCellisGlobal #SickleCellAwareness #SickleCellEducation

Meet Aria, an adorable 7 month old baby and a sickle cell trait carrier. Aria’s mother @jojobaby1123 suffers from sickle cell disease type SS, which means Aria automatically inherited one of her mother’s sickle cell gene. Aria was diagnosed through California’s newborn screening program. Help raise #sicklecell awareness by sharing this post. #SickleCell101 #SickleCellisGlobal #SickleCellAwareness #SickleCellEducation