Episode 8

This week our host’s Nikki Akparewa and Karim Assalaam are discussing with Ken West.

An honorable Elder in the Puget Sound sickle community; Ken West tells us a little about his work at Seattle Children’s Research Institute and how he strives to be a stepping stone for following generations.

Topics:

• Alternative ways to manage pain

• Avascular necrosis and other secondary ailments (synonym to projected) by SCD

• Staying engaged with Primary Care Providers

• Importance of Mental and social outlets for those with chronic pain

• Understanding what it means to have a sickle and everyone checking their biases

“Make it further! I’m the stepping stone, you guys are the ones who are going to make it past me and that is really what I am living for.”

“Often we are diminished, they marginalize us; when there are a lot of people out there with sickle cell that is very successful, and that can be any one of us.”