Erica Whitherspoon talks about her experience living with Sickle Cell on the SCD Stories podcast.

Her parents didn't know much about the illness

She was not able to do things like swimming in a cold pool and was always labeled as "the sick one."

With the help of three supportive friends, she got through her teenage years.

Erica feared being misjudged if she told people about her condition.

In 2022, she spent several months in the hospital in crisis, missing most of the summer.

Despite this, she advocates for sickle cell awareness everywhere and wears her sickle cell badge with pride.

Erica is an overachiever, persevering, and serving her community.