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Outlook: My brother’s illness made me a  “sickle cell warrior”

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Tartania Brown, a winner of the BBC Inspirations Awards 2020

28/12/2020 GMT

My brother’s illness made me a  “sickle cell warrior”

BBC World Service - Outlook, My brother’s illness made me a  “sickle cell warrior”

Tartania Brown is one of few sickle cell doctors in New York who also has the condition

BBC Inspirations 2020 winner: Tartania Brown’s brother Christopher was, like her, born with sickle cell anaemia. His treatment inspired her to become a doctor and campaigner.

Tartania Brown is from New York City and she has sickle cell anaemia, a genetic disorder that affects red blood cells and can be fatal. At one stage, Tartania didn’t know if she would reach her 20s. Her brother Christopher also had the condition, and when he was just four years old he had multiple strokes that left him unable to speak or move. It was a challenging time for Tartania's whole family, but also transformative for her. After watching the way the doctors and nurses cared for her brother she was inspired to study medicine herself. After much hard work, she is a palliative care physician, looking after patients with a range of conditions including sickle cell anaemia. 

Featuring a live musical performance from Sherman Irby, lead alto saxophonist at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. 

Emily Webb caught up with Tartania to name her of the winners of BBC Inspirations 2020. For full details of the awards and Covid-19 related changes, please check the revised terms on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/inspirations.

Producers: Maryam Maruf, Troy Holmes
Editor: Munazza Khan

Picture: Tartania Brown
Credit: Dr Alexander Kumar

This programme was recorded on 3 December, 2020.

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