KiAnna
Hi, my name is KiAnna and I’m 24 going on 25 this spring. I’m adopted and the oldest of 11. Five adopted, five biological to my adopted parents, and 2 in-laws! Recently married to my best friend and love Kyle!
I was born to a very young couple. My birth father died when he was my age (24). So I only knew him for the first two years of my life. Birth father had SS Disease and birth mother Sickle Cell Trait. After having two strokes (ages 4 and 7) I was put into foster care because my birth mother was on her own and her family didn’t help out. She was very young, three young children, was also sick, and no support.
My foster parents ended up adopting me at age 10 and my two biological sisters 2 years later. My parents have been so loving and patient with hospital visits, surgeries, pain, and tears. They were and still are supportive of me and everything I do. I keep in touch with my birth mother and her other biological children.
Hydroxyurea
I was healthy for 4 years because I started taking Hydroxyurea, but one month after my marriage, I suffered a series of mild stokes and a pain crisis. It was my husband’s first experience with it, so it was very emotional for both of us. Thank God for my parents, even with them 4,000 miles away. They helped Kyle through it.
I feel extremely lucky to have parents that took me in and show their love for me. I’m lucky to have found someone who is willing to take care of me for the rest of my life.
I am still taking Hydroxyurea. For 5 years, I’ve been taking it and have had only two crisis’. I have recovered from my strokes. While I have a little damage from the strokes from when I was 4 and 7 years old, the ones this winter, no damage done. I’m feeling a lot better.
Praise God I’m still alive!! I’m 24, suffered 2 major strokes, a series of mild strokes, SS Disease, meningitis, pneumonia, ECT… Just praise God I’m still alive!
I think it is amazing and we have similar upbringings. I was in foster care from ages 4 to 17. I also have sickle cell but I have sickle beta thalessemia +. No one believed my crisis because they say I shouldn’t have any. I was told I didn’t have sickle cell and was taken off ALL medications. While at school I fell out during ROTC PT and was rushed to the ER. You know the rest, Lol they put me back in all medications and was doing better. I am now 24 going on 25 in August. And I now have Epilepsy along with the sickle cell and my biological grandmother (whom I just met three years ago) have been my biggest supporter. I can only thank God for all he has done and continuing to do. You are a living testimony that it only gets better and we can have “normal” lives and we happy. Thank you for sharing