Hello,

We are missionaries in East Africa (originally from Oregon) and have adopted two children with sickle cell disease. The first one we took in was very sick but we did not know what with. After extensive testing we found out she had SC. Our newest son, also Ugandan, was dying in an orphanage with SC and we felt like we could not turn our heads and let him die. We feel so blessed to be the parents of these beautiful children, they are two of eight kids. Right now they are both very healthy and happy. Our daughter, Elyssa, is 4 years old and came to us starving to death, undiagnosed and obviously untreated. She has had two major crisis in the past year but never had to be admitted or receive a transfusion. Her normal HB is 7-7.3. Our son, Enoch, just came to us on July 1st and was very sick. He had two transfusions in June (while he was still in the orphanage). He is 14 months old. His HB was at 5.3-5.7 last time we had it checked but he seems to be doing very well--happy, active and eating great. We treat the kids both with folic acid and multi vitamins as well as a very healthy diet--thanks to living in a country with the most amazing fresh produce in the world. We believe that the hope they our children have found in being part of a loving family has worked a miracle in their lives. They were both abandoned by their families due to SC. I am looking forward to being in touch with adults on this forum who have experience and wisdom in treating this disease. Thanks for setting it up!