SILENT

What does it take to be a voice to those who are often silenced?  In Episode 4 of SILENT, Ijeoma and Christina connect with Dr. Ify Osunkwo, a professor and medical doctor at Atrium Health who has dedicated her life to sickle cell advocacy.  Dr. Ify talks of her first encounter with sickle cell disease as a child living in Nigeria, and how that first encounter served as a launch pad to her current work. Dr. Ify teaches listeners about the nuances of sickle cell disease, how it affects individuals, and what people can do to be advocates themselves.  This is an episode not to be missed! Dr. Ify can be found on LinkedIn and on Twitter and Instagram at @ifyosunkwomd.  Silent Podcast is sponsored by The Ruby Ball Foundation where our goal is to create a voice in the silence by promoting awareness while empowering and improving the quality of life for individuals living with sickle cell disease around the world! For more information, visit www.therubyball.org.

A mother's love spans across generations.  In episode 3, Ijeoma and Christina sit down with Desiree, Christina's sister. They learn about her journey as a woman and mom living with sickle cell disease. Desiree courageously shares some of the obstacles that she has had to overcome and what ultimately keeps her going in her journey with sickle cell.  As a bonus, we have an opportunity to hear from Elijah, Desiree's son, about what it is like growing up having a parent who has sickle cell and he also shares what keeps him going. As we learn through Episode 3, a mother's love seems to always be at the heart of the matter.  Silent Podcast is sponsored by The Ruby Ball Foundation where our goal is to create a voice in the silence by promoting awareness while empowering and improving the quality of life for individuals living with sickle cell disease around the world! For more information, visit www.therubyball.org.

We often see that there are societal pressures for men to appear to be "strong."  What are the ways that the need to be strong can be either helpful or harmful to us? And is this just a dilemma that men face?  Christina and Ijeoma explore some of these questions with their guest, Obinna, who is also Ijeoma's twin brother! Obinna, who also has sickle cell disease, shares some of his toughest moments, how they have affected him and his family, and how he has persisted through each of them. Obinna, Ijeoma, and Christina celebrate a special day while starting one of the conversations that has been long overdue for the family.  You can connect with Obinna on Instagram at @_beans83. Silent Podcast is sponsored by The Ruby Ball Foundation where our goal is to create a voice in the silence by promoting awareness while empowering and improving the quality of life for individuals living with sickle cell disease around the world! For more information, visit www.therubyball.org.

In today's inaugural episode, we meet hosts, Ijeoma Ezinne and Christina Lachelle who share their stories with us.  They introduce us to Princess Sherika, a sickle cell advocate and author of children's book, Super Cells.  She shares her courageous story with us about what it means to rise above fear.  You can connect with Princess Sherika at @supercellsbook or @princess_freshc on Instagram. Silent Podcast is sponsored by The Ruby Ball Foundation where our goal is to create a voice in the silence by promoting awareness while empowering and improving the quality of life for individuals living with sickle cell disease around the world! For more information, visit www.therubyball.org.  Thanks for listening.  See you next episode!