Meet KiAnna – Daughter, Wife, Warrior

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!