Almost a Miracle

First grandchild’s birthday is today.  I didn’t think my daughter would give me a grandchild.  But she did 21 years ago.  She had this baby, a daughter, pictured in my arms at seven months old.  Happy Birthday, Jai Haley! 

At 2 years old, Jai’s mom was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease.  Readers of Black Star Girl, my entertaining, yet fact-filled, and historically relevant memoir, will find a candid word portrait of the chronic illness in chapter 30, “A Dick and Jane Life”.

I consider both Jai and her younger brother, Will, to be my almost-a-miracle grandchildren.  I never dreamed their mom would risk pregnancy, considering her lifetime crisis-to-crisis struggle with the organ debilitating disease for which there is still no cure.  

I celebrate Jai and her mom today!

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Please look for an opportunity and help find a vaccine to wipe out the occurrence of Sickle Cell Disease and a cure for the Disease, as well.