Tag: Equity

The Sickle Cell Warrior Never Gives Up!

“Fighting Is Not Magic. It Is Skill.”

“You Are Powerful. More Than You Even Know. Do Not Give Your Power Away.”

“We Fight Not Just For Today, But For The Future!”

– The Woman King

The Woman King is a powerful film that captures the essence of courage, leadership, empowerment, strength and destiny. The women warriors exhibit power in the face of challenges and triumph against the greatest odds. The warriors are well trained and expert leaders. The warriors are powerful beyond measure. The warriors realize that they fight not only for the moment, but for the future. Warriors are brilliant and magnificent. The Sickle Cell Warrior, like the warriors in the Woman King, is a true warrior.

September was Sickle Cell Awareness Month. This month recognizes sickle cell carriers and their fight against the disease, Sickle cell disease — also called sickle cell anemia — is a group of inherited  disorders that affect hemoglobin  , the major protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells. Normally, red blood cells are disc-shaped and flexible so they can move easily through the blood vessels. In sickle cell disease, red blood cells are misshaped, typically crescent- or “sickle”-shaped due to a gene mutation  that affects the hemoglobin molecule. When red blood cells sickle, they do not bend or move easily and can block blood flow to the rest of the body causing intense pain and sometimes organ failure or seizures. During Sickle Cell Awareness month, we recognize these warriors courage, champion cures for this disease and promote blood donation for warriors needing transfusions to survive.

– Center for Disease Control

The month of September was not simply about awareness. It was also about showing the power of change made by Sickle Cell Warriors. Change that is measured and meaningful. Change that is long lasting and impactful. Change that is sustainable for everyone. Teresa Burroughs is a Sickle Cell Warrior and her bravery of 2025 is the foundation of warrior legends.

Teresa is More Than Black Girl Magic!

Black Girl Magic is a phrase created by CaShawn Thompson in 2013. The phrase was developed to address negative perceptions and media coverage of Black women. It was coined to celebrate the beauty, power and resilience of Black women and remind the world that our image is not dictated by bias filled media stories, but instead through Black women showing their own magic and success. Although the term was created with positive intent, it has been used to discount the skills, talents and abilities of magnificent Black women. The reality is Black Girl Success-is not “magic” at all. The “magic” is the soul of Black women and brilliance of their creativity, imagination and hard work. Black women thrive because they are the best. There is nothing magical about it.

Teresa Ann Burroughs is a Sickle Cell Fighter. She is a warrior. The last year has been filled with many rounds of what seemed like a winner take all prize fight. Emergency room visits in states far away from home; blood transfusions for the first time since she was an infant; and intense pain and drug protocols that created dizziness, nausea and fear. All of this required extended hospitalization and many specialists speculating on why the chronic pain, that is felt daily, increased to a sickle cell episode of very severe pain. So much pain that she screamed when anyone tried to comfort her and accidentally touched her legs. She said it felt like glass cutting her legs. Those were painful days to watch my baby suffer. On those days the parents of this sickle cell warrior felt helpless.

Those days of sickle cell pain in the Summer of 2024 provided no Black Girl Magic. Instead, I saw Black girl resilience. There was no pixie dust that took away the tears. Instead, the power of a warrior shined as she faced adversity and met it head on. Black Girl Magic is a phrase that is still useful and showcases Teresa and other Black Girls. It does not always give the credit that is deserved. Teresa is Black Girl Resilient and a Warrior.

Teresa is More Powerful than She Knows

Sickle Cell Warriors like Teresa are not given power, they must take it. Sickle Cell causes chronic daily pain. Everyday when she wakes, goes to school, does homework, eats dinner and lays down, Teresa is in pain. On good days the pain is 5/ out of 10. Other days that pain increases to 9 out of 10. The pain varies and makes it impossible for her to walk, play or sleep. She is powerful because sickle cell pain does not take a day off, so she does not get a chance to either.

After the Summer and into Fall 2024, Teresa’s pain cost her the ability to walk. The pain was so intense that she could not get out of. The Emergency Department for breakfast. She could not get on her feet to go to the bus stop. She could not walk to the restroom. She could not get food from the kitchen. She could not walk to get hugs from her mom or dad. Life had taken a turn and tried to take my warrior’s power. Most non-warriors let physical disability impact other parts of their lives, but this amazing warrior took the opportunity to show perseverance and show that nothing can stop her.

During the school year of 2024-25, many days of school were missed. When she was in school, Teresa had to use a wheelchair. The days of doing things other kids were doing were gone. My warrior had to use a walker and would hobble day to day. Despite all of the obstacles, Teresa made the 7th grade honor roll and made her mom and dad the proudest parents in the room. Nothing could stop her and she made us all believe. The powerful Teresa Ann Burroughs is amazing. She will never give her power away.

Sickle Cell Warriors Fight for the Future

On August 13, 2025, the fight for the future led by #TeamTeresa took an abrupt change. Sickle Cell Warriors are not the only fighters in Sickle Warrior Month. The family of the warrior is the foundation of the fight. Teresa is the lead warrior, but mom and dad have always had her back, front and side. Teresa was born early and spent 66 days in the hospital at an amazing weight of 1 1/2 pounds. Mom and Dad were there day and night trading shifts when needed. Coming at home at 4 1/2 pounds, we knew there was more to do for the future of sickle cell parents. We then committed to help other sickle cell trait carriers like her mom and I to learn more abut the disease, learn about blood transfusions and then teach others more about the need for blood donations, especially in the Black community. Our Warrior made us fight for the future. We advocated for change by partnering with Memorial. Blood Centers, the Red Cross, March of Dimes, Sickle Cell Foundation of Minnesota and many other organizations. The future of healing required this and we as a family stepped up for the challenge.

August 13, is the day one of our Sickle Cell Mom Warriors took her wings. Part of being a warrior is continuing the fight for health justice even when others might give in and give up. One thing Teresa is committed to is continuing this fight for her healing and also showcasing the work and legacy of her mom. Mom was at every appointment, every visit , every school program, every blood transfusion, every advocacy event and every place she could be. A warrior for her daughter. Heavenly Warriors and earthy angels will keep transforming how we address Sickle Cell Disease and keep making sure SickleCell Warriors Never Give Up!

James

#TeamTeresa

My Conversation with Henry Bailey

Tonight I stopped by Subway to order dinner for daughter and I. Tonight is movie night and she loves Subway. In particular, she loves a six inch Turkey on flatbread with American cheese and mayo. She also likes pickles and salami on the side. Henry Bailey took my order at Subway. He always takes good care of of my daughter and remembers her name and order every-time we visit. Henry and I got a chance to “chop it up” tonight. (those not familiar with phrase “chop it up” please expand your friend base and learn more). I asked Henry if he is looking forward to hopefully not wearing a mask in a few more months. He and I both said YES! I told Henry I was just at a DeLasalle Islanders JV game and that the players are now wearing masks. We started talking about basketball. I told Henry that I go and watch DeLasalle JV games sometimes because “my guy” is the head coach for the JV. He tells me he use to play with Alan Anderson, who played at DeLasalle, on touring teams. I then asked Henry did he know my guy DC who is the coach of the JV squad. He said YES! He let me know they he used to play with and against DC on many teams. We connected over something in common. I even told him Henry that way back in the day I played ball in Detroit with BJ Armstrong and that I was pretty good. :). I told him my boys and I even won the Gus Macker in ‘94 here in St. Paul. He seemed impressed or he made me feel like he was. 🙂

Henry and I kept talking as he made my daughter’s sandwich and my salad bowl (trying to eat healthy). He said that he stopped playing ball awhile ago in order to follow his passion. Henry said that he is a chef and was trained at culinary school. Henry is starting a food truck and it will be ready to go by August. Henry is going to make some special sandwiches for his truck and he beamed with joy as he talked about his food truck. I told Henry that in my current job at Children’s Minnesota, I can set him up to be a vendor at our hospitals and clinics. He was excited. He said he is looking forward to having his own business and making great food. Henry checked me out and I gave him a a monetary tip. I also asked him if he knew Coach McKenzie, Coach Jamil and others. Of course he said yes. Henry told me to tell my daughter hello and he said he looks forward to seeing us again.

I ask that you Meet and Chop It Up with a Henry in your life. While you may be rushing to sign up for Antiracism training, joining the Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity, donating to racial equity and social justice groups and trying to eliminate years or racism and oppression quickly, I suggest you slow down long enough to meet a Henry. I need you to talk to someone and get to know their dreams. I need you to find something in common and develop a relationship with someone not in your circle. I need you to commit to networking and not to just benefit you, but also benefit others as well. I need you to focus less on reading and learning about racism and what not to do. I need you to focus more on what you can do and find a Henry in your life.


“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Let’s communicate and build community together. Stay tuned for Henry Bailey’s food truck and my investment in his future. Who are you getting to know and investing in? Let’s communicate, partner and make a real difference.

#JB

#equityactions