FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 • WELLNESS • THE QUEENS COURIER 41
wellness
‘Generation S’ PSA Calls Everyone to Help Raise
Awareness of the Impact of Sickle Cell Disease
Despite being one of the most common
genetic disorders in the world, patients
with sickle cell disease frequently live
their lives in the shadows - their voices
going unheard, their condition may oft en
go undertreated or ignored. A new public
service announcement (PSA) campaign
featuring Grammy®-nominated singer,
fi lm and Broadway star, Jordin Sparks,
and fi ve people touched by the disease,
invites the public to get involved and help
patients through understanding and support.
Last year, Sparks helped launch
“Generation S” - a national sickle cell
disease storytelling project sponsored by
Novartis that encourages people touched
by the disease to break their silence about
the true impact of sickle cell disease. Since
then, more than 750 stories about experiencing
life with sickle cell disease have
been submitted to JoinGenS.com.
Although sickle cell disease aff ects
roughly 100,000 Americans, it has gone
unseen by many. Th e general public may
not understand the impact and burden
of sickle cell disease. Th e stigma associated
with the disease has left many patients
under-treated and lost in the health care
system.
Despite their challenges, the PSA highlights
the resiliency of people touched by
sickle cell disease, who are fi ghting the
disease and starting foundations in honor
of family members.
Here are some ways to join Jordin
Sparks and the storytellers to help educate
those who may interact with people living
with sickle cell disease at work or in their
personal lives:
Stay informed - What is
sickle cell disease?
Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder
that aff ects the shape of red blood
cells and makes blood cells stickier than
usual. Th is can cause blockages in blood
vessels and when the blood fl ow slows
or gets blocked, there can be more health
risks over time, like organ damage and
organ failure and other long-term health
complications.
It also can impact family and friends
of those carrying the disease in profound
ways. While one patient describes her condition
as feeling like “shattered glass moving
through my veins,” others share stories
of watching loved ones struggle for years
without being able to ease their suff ering.
Communicate and interact
By sharing the PSA, you can help the
public understand the burden and impact
of the condition and the real life stories of
those living with sickle cell disease.
Th e PSA is supported by Sickle Cell
Disease Association of America (SCDAA),
Sickle Cell 101, Sick Cells, the Sickle Cell
Community Consortium (SCCC) and
Bold Lips for Sickle Cell - all partners to
Novartis’s “Generation S.” Interact with
the community and view additional stories
featured in the “Generation S” mosaic
on the JoinGenS.com website.
Share your story
For Jordin Sparks, sickle cell disease is
personal. She lost her young stepsister to
the disease in 2018.
“Many people still don’t know the
impact sickle cell disease has on people
living with it, and their families and
friends,” Sparks said. “I hope this PSA will
help change our mindset regarding sickle
cell and I am proud to lend my voice to
shine a light on these stories.”
To learn more and share your story, visit
www.JoinGenS.com.
Courtesy BPT
/JoinGenS.com
/WWW.QNS.COM
/www.JoinGenS.com
/JoinGenS.com
/www.JoinGenS.com
