Mental health issues complicate treatment for sickle cell patients
April Ward-McGrory is a sickle cell patient, double amputee and advocate for those living with sickle cell disease. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
“It really hurts when it’s somebody you think is going to at least try to understand or be empathetic … all they see is my Black face and my sickle cell,” said April Ward-McGrory. She’s had both legs amputated because of sepsis and nearly died several times from complications related to the sickle cell disease.
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Sickle Cell Disease social determinates of health Mental health UTHSC Methodist University HospitalAisling Mäki
Aisling Mäki covers health care, banking and finance, technology and professions. After launching her career in news two decades ago, she worked in public relations for almost a decade before returning to journalism in 2022.
As a health care reporter, she’s collaborated with The Carter Center, earned awards from the Associated Press and Society of Professional Journalists and won a 2024 Tennessee Press Association first-place prize for her series on discrepancies in Shelby County life expectancy by ZIP code.
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