Sickled but Super

Bright Voices from Bright Life
A Blog by Gloria Naigaga, Lab Assistant at Kabukye Trust’s Bright Life Medical Centre

Alright, listen up, my sickle cell soldiers!

My name is Gloria Naigaga, and if you’ve ever had your blood drawn at Bright Life, chances are I’ve poked you (gently!) while cracking a joke to keep you smiling. For the past two years, I’ve lived in this lab—not just testing samples, but fighting for every child, teen, and adult battling sickle cell disease (SCD). And let me tell you: You. Are. Super.

This blog? It’s for you—the young warriors who’ve been told you’re “too fragile” (lies!). For the health workers grinding in clinics with too few supplies. For the donors who want to know where their shillings really go. And for anyone who’s ever thought SCD is just “pain crises” and missed school days. Nah. It’s also about resilience, rebellion, and ridiculous amounts of courage.

Here’s the Sickled Truth:

You deserve more than “just survive.” You should thrive—with meds that don’t bankrupt your family, doctors who listen, and a community that doesn’t whisper myths about your blood.
Healthcare workers, you’re the frontline. Let’s turn every clinic into a haven, not a horror story. (Yes, I’ll teach you how to spot a crisis before it spirals.)
Adherence is hard when life is harder. But we’ll hack the system—with peer support, pain management that actually works, and adults who finally explain SCD in words kids understand.

I call it like I see it. So expect real talk about:
🔬 Lab wins (like catching infections early) vs. lab fails (like stockouts of hydroxyurea).
💉 SCD hacks—because no child should white-knuckle through a crisis without relief.
🔥 Stories of sheer stubbornness—like the teen who aced exams mid-crisis or the mama who turned her home into a mini-clinic.

This disease bends us, but it won’t break us. So whether you’re a health worker tired of feeling helpless, a donor ready to invest in change, or a young warrior who needs to hear “You’re not alone”—welcome.

Let’s get loud. Let’s get bold. And let’s prove that sickled cells make superheroes.

— Gloria

P.S. Comment with your Sickled Superpower. Mine? Drawing blood without making a single kid cry. (Most days.) 😉

Why “Sickled, But Super”? Because SCD warriors don’t just endure—they adapt, overcome, and outshine. And Bright Life? We’re here to make sure the world sees it.*