LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With hope and resilience, one Louisville family is raising awareness about young people who are living with sickle cell disease.

What You Need To Know

  • When Kali Sartin was born, she was diagnosed her with sickle cell anemia,—a chronic blood disorder

  • Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited blood disorders characterized by chronic anemia, periodic episodes of pain and other complications
  • Experts say one option to help people living with sickle cell is by donating blood

Antuan Sartin and his daughter Kali prepare dinner like any other family does. But for the Sartins, it’s special because they haven’t spent a lot of time at home.

“We just now starting to get used to being able to come home, do our daily things at home and live life versus having to go back and forth to the hospital,” said Antuan. She has been receiving treatment at Norton Children's Cancer Institute. 

Dr. Ashok Raj has been Kali’s doctor since she was born and diagnosed her with sickle cell anemia—a chronic blood disorder.

“Sickle cell disease is one of the common blood diseases that we see in the United States. There are roughly about 100,000 patients with sickle cell disease in the U.S.,” said Raj.

Antuan says he had two family members die from the disease. But he tries to show his daughter how she can live life to the fullest and advocate for herself.

“She’s tired of having to take pills, is probably tired of having these aches and pains or these little mild crises. And it’s tough. And so, you know, I’m just there for her to show her how to. Because at some point when she becomes an adult or young adult, she’s going to have to know how to take care of herself,” said Antuan.

Kali says she rarely lets others know about her blood disorder because there is more to her than just living with sickle cell.

“It’s like, I’m not that important. Like, you don’t really need to know that. It doesn’t describe me. That’s not who I am,” said Kali.

Kali loves sports, especially soccer. She met and watched the U.S. Women’s National Team practice, and got pictures, autographs, even her very own jersey.

“I’m a firm believer in, you know, things happen for a reason. And she was born with this for a reason. And so, I think in my eyes is spreading awareness,” said Antuan.

The Sartins hope to keep raising awareness around sickle cell disease and research. If you want to help people living with sickle cell, experts say one option is by donating blood.

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