Man Battles Sickle Cell from Hospital and Advocates for Awareness
INDIANAPOLIS – For Kyle Law, the sterile white walls of a hospital room are a familiar sight. The 28-year-old Educator from Pike Township is currently in the hospital, in the midst of another “pain crisis” brought on by a disease he’s been fighting since he was just six months old.
His mother, Nicole Law, knows this battle intimately. She was diagnosed at age three.
As Indiana prepares to recognize World Sickle Cell Day this Thursday, June 19, the Laws are sharing their story of resilience, pain, and their unwavering mission to educate others about a life-threatening disorder that affects thousands of Hoosiers.
Sickle Cell Disease is a rare, inherited blood disorder affecting more than 1,700 people in Indiana. It causes red blood cells to become hard, sticky, and C-shaped, leading to blockages in blood flow. These blockages can result in debilitating pain, organ damage, serious infections, or even stroke.
For Kyle, that means being hospitalized about six times a year for blood transfusions and pain management, with an average stay of seven to ten days.
Critically, health experts note that an even larger number of Hoosiers carry the Sickle Cell trait, often without knowing it, meaning they can pass the disease on to their children. The condition is most common in individuals of African American, Hispanic/Latino, South Asian, and Middle Eastern descent.
Despite a childhood spent in and out of hospitals, both mother and son have forged successful careers in education. Their professional success is a testament to their spirit, but it doesn’t erase the daily struggle. Their mission now is to use their experience to raise awareness and advocate for better care. Kyle specifically praised the patient care and treatments he receives from Innovative Hematology in Indianapolis for helping him manage his condition.
As Kyle continues his current fight from a hospital bed, his family hopes their story will encourage Hoosiers to learn more about Sickle Cell, understand the importance of testing for the trait, and support those living with the constant battle.
