Deshawn “DJ” Chow waited a year to receive a treatment that could change his life. The 19-year-old was born with sickle cell disease, which makes his red blood cells crescent-shaped and sticky. The misshapen cells build up and block blood vessels, cutting off oxygen to parts of the body and causing episodes of excruciating pain. The condition affects about 100,000 people in the United States, most of them Black.
The pain came more and more frequently for Chow in high school, landing him in the hospital often. He missed school, birthday parties, and sleepovers with friends. Sometimes, the pain lasted for days. “It’s like my body is on fire,” he