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For years, Shorna lived in quiet denial. She knew she had Sickle Cell, but acceptance was not immediate. Like many individuals navigating chronic illness, she attempted to place distance between herself and the condition mentally, emotionally, and socially. It was not ignorance; it was protection. A way of preserving normalcy in a world that often reduces people to diagnoses rather than dreams.
She wanted a life untouched by constant explanations. A life where conversations did not begin with medical definitions. A life where she could simply exist without being defined by her blood. But denial, while human, is rarely permanent. As time passed, something began to shift within her. There was no dramatic turning point, no defining crisis that forced acceptance overnight. Instead, transformation arrived quietly. A gradual change in perspective. A soft but decisive internal awakening that reframed years of avoidance into intentional understanding.
What began as reluctant acknowledgment slowly evolved into purpose. That inner shift ignited a growing desire to contribute meaningfully to the lives of others living with Sickle Cell. Rather than allowing the condition to remain a private struggle, Shorna began to see the possibility of advocacy, awareness, and impact. Living with a chronic condition, she believes, demands more than resilience. It requires balance.
While awareness is essential, Shorna is intentional about how deeply she immerses herself in Sickle Cell–related content. Much of the discourse surrounding the condition can be heavy, and at times overwhelmingly somber. Continuous exposure, she realised, could weigh heavily on mental and emotional well-being. Learning when to step back became an act of self-preservation.
Protecting her peace was not avoidance. It was wisdom. It was understanding that survival includes safeguarding one’s emotional space as much as managing physical health. Yet there were seasons when distance was impossible. During her academic journey, Shorna chose to confront the subject directly, completing multiple assignments and both of her dissertations focused on Sickle Cell. This period required total immersion. She engaged extensively with medical journals, research studies, and scientific literature, exploring the condition from analytical and academic perspectives.
It was an intense process, but also transformative. By approaching the research with intentional emotional separation, she created space to examine Sickle Cell objectively almost as though she were studying it from outside her own experience. This allowed her to question, analyse, and understand the condition beyond fear or personal vulnerability. Education became more than academic pursuit. It became empowerment.
Through research, she gained language for experiences she had long felt but struggled to articulate. Knowledge replaced uncertainty. Understanding replaced silence. And gradually, advocacy began to take shape. Perhaps one of the most defining chapters of Shorna’s journey emerged through community.
Connecting with others living with Sickle Cell revealed something she had not realised she was missing: shared understanding. Within that space, explanations were unnecessary. Experiences did not need translation. There was an unspoken recognition of both pain and perseverance. For the first time, she felt fully seen. In community, strength did not have to be performed. Vulnerability was not weakness. Stories could be shared honestly, without minimising hardship or exaggerating resilience for acceptance. This connection reshaped her understanding of resilience itself.
Resilience, she learned, is not endurance in isolation. It is collective strength. It is found in shared stories, mutual encouragement, and the courage to exist authentically alongside others who understand the journey firsthand. Today, Shorna stands as more than someone living with Sickle Cell. She represents a voice shaped by lived experience, education, reflection, and empathy. Her journey from denial to acceptance reflects a broader truth experienced by many navigating chronic conditions: overcoming odds is not always about defeating something.
Sometimes, it is about redefining it. Her story reminds us that purpose often emerges from the very places we once tried to hide. That healing is not linear. And that acceptance can transform personal struggle into meaningful contribution. Shorna’s voice is no longer hesitant. Her purpose is clear. And her story stands as a testament to resilience not as perfection, but as persistence, growth, and hope.
Join Shorna on LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok as she continues to share her journey beyond the pages of this feature. Afro Magazine celebrates her resilience and courage, recognising her as a powerful voice of encouragement for many navigating life with strength, faith, and hope.
Afro Magazine | OVERCOMING ODDS — Voices of Resilience
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