This is a story about red blood cells that are different...

This is Henry. He is a sickle cell. He is a blood cell that lives in a boy named Charles' body.

Sickle cells like Henry are formed when a person inherits the disease from their parents.

So, this means that Charles couldn't have prevented it if he tried.

If sickle cells like Henry are not treated, they can lead to a stroke, which can be fatal.

So what symptoms did Charles experience with sickle cell?

First, his hands and feet swelled...

Then, he started experiencing anemia symptoms...

Next came the episodes of pain (crisis)...

This is when blood cells get stuck and it could even block blood flow. This can be very painful.

And he started having vision problems.

Sickle cell anemia also affected a lot in Charles' body.

Sickle cell anemia affected his cardiovascular system.

And it also affected all of his major organs

How did it affect them?

Sickle cell affects all major organs, because sickle cells can not flow properly through all of the small blood vessels. They get stuck, so sometimes the organs don't get enough blood