Vernita Rhodes
An Adult with Sickle Cell Disease
Written by her Sister, Cynthia Croom
Sickle Cell Anemia has always been a part of my life. I remember the nose bleeds that wouldn’t stop when I was a child. Those times generally required a visit to the emergency room. I remember learning early in my life that children with Sickle Cell disease often didn’t live long. In fact, those numbers -- those age limits -- stood out in my head as milestones. I approached the thought of dying at age 16 with a particular fear. The fear of an impending death, which didn’t happen, was entrenched in my mind. Then years later, the age 33 became the magic number. Was this the year of death? Was this the year that life ended?
Now I don’t worry so much about ages and years. I simply reflect on the blessings of 45 years – not for me but for my sister, Vernita. You see, I was not the child diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia. So the many trips to the hospital and the painful nose bleeds were not my own. Instead, what I got was not simply the fear of possibly losing my sister, but I also received the benefit of being inspired by the faith and the tremendous courage Vernita showed me daily. With each accomplishment in my life, I was always reminded of the courage of someone who was one of my biggest supporters. What I didn’t know and what I learned much later was that Vernita endured constant struggles and severe pain because of the Sickle Cell disease. I also have learned about all of her hopes and dreams, and all the goals she had set for her life. So now, my feelings are not those of sadness but those of incredible admiration for my sister.
Vernita has a tremendous love for people and she is great with children. She is very committed to her family and, she touches others by her strength and courage. Vernita continuously makes all of us aware of the impact Sickle Cell Disease can have on a person. She makes sure that she collects funds from us for the (North Alabama) Sickle Cell Foundation and she also sees that we give to Sickle Cell research. She makes us aware of the many people who suffer from this dreadful disease who have greater struggles than she does.
Vernita doesn’t allow her illness to make her self-centered. Her volunteerism each summer at a camp for young children with Sickle Cell is a reminder that just because we may suffer from difficulty in our lives, we don’t have to be so self-focused that we can’t reach out to help others.
I am glad that my greatest thoughts of Vernita are not only of her illness but also of her incredible faith in God, her courage, and her determination to live life to the fullest. Yes, Sickle Cell is a horrible disease, but my sister, Vernita, is an inspiration – my inspiration.