Birmingham girl, 9, with sickle cell wins advocacy award

A nine-year-old girl who suffered two strokes because of her sickle cell disease (SCD) has won an award for raising awareness about the condition.

Tayshelice, from Kingstanding, Birmingham, was diagnosed as a baby after a heel prick test.

"On the outside, I look fine, but on the inside, it's really difficult and overwhelming," she said.

"We are so proud of her for using her experiences to teach the world about sickle cell," said mum Tameka.

"She's had to deal with so much at such a young age, but she is so resilient and takes everything in her stride."

Tayshelice is one of about 15,000 people in the UK with SCD, which tends to affect people of African and Caribbean heritage.

The lifelong condition produces unusually shaped red blood cells that can block blood vessels.

It can lead to painful episodes - sickle cell crises - and an increased risk of serious infections, strokes and lung problems.

"I've had headaches that feel like there's glass in my head. The pain is so bad that sometimes I have to go to hospital," Tayshelice explained.

Tameka described how, in 2022, she noticed her daughter was unable to hear as well as usual and was beginning to lip read.

An MRI scan later revealed Tayshelice had experienced two "silent strokes" because the blood flow in her brain had been blocked.

"It was really devastating," Tameka said. "We were so worried about her, but she was well looked after by the staff, who arranged an urgent blood cell exchange."

Following treatment, Tayshelice is recovering and has started a YouTube channel to teach others about the condition.

She also reads stories about SCD in church and at local nursing homes and has raised more than £300 for sickle cell charities at a school event.

Tayshelice has now been named My Friend Jen Young Advocate of the Year, for her awareness-raising and will be presented with a prize at a sickle cell conference in the summer.

Amanda Cope, advanced nurse practitioner for haematology at Birmingham Children's Hospital, described her as "a little star".

"She's had a really rough time having to deal with some severe pain but she always soldiers on," she said.

"She's such an inspiration and we're all so proud of her."

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