Real Stories from People Living with Thalassemia

“I have worked hard my entire life to not let thalassemia define me or prevent me from living my life to its fullest.” – said Radhika Sawh

Navdeep Singh was diagnosed with thalassemia at 9 months of age, when his parents sought medical attention because their lively, happy baby experienced a drop in energy level and looked pale.

“Thalassemia impacts most of my life, but it does not define who I am.”

Those are impressive words coming from anyone discussing life with a chronic disorder such as thalassemia. They are even more impressive coming from Eashani Ghosh, who is only 15 years old.

Read more about Eashani’s story.

My name is Chanapa Tantibanchachai. I grew up in a small town in Arizona, where my parents still live. When I was 8 months old, my parents learned I had thalassemia.

“Thalassemia, and the challenges that accompany it, have helped me become stronger and overcome many difficulties and negative feelings.”

I am Yasmeen Anis, age 23, living with a severe form of thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder in which the red blood cells aren’t able to get enough oxygen to the tissues and organs in the body.

“We are not defined by the obstacles placed in our way, but by how we overcome them.” This is the view of Janelle Trieu…

When Amy Pizzulli was born in 1956, her parents were told that the life expectancy for a person born with thalassemia in the United States was 12 to 13 years of age.

Tracy Antonelli did not receive her first red blood cell transfusion, a treatment for thalassemia, until the age of 36. Thalassemia, however, has had a big impact on her life since early childhood.

“My name is Rahul Kapoor, and I was born with thalassemia, a blood disorder which requires transfusions every other week to keep me healthy and alive.

“I don’t remember when I was diagnosed with beta thalassemia major (also known as Cooley’s anemia), but my parents tell me I was around one year old,” said Aaron Cheng.

“There’s something different about people who are confronted with challenges, such as thalassemia, Robert says. “We’re driven to do big things.”