How My Voice Became My Power: Advocacy and Awareness in Action

You might think a chronic condition like Sickle Cell Anaemia would silence someone, but for Sophia, it's the opposite. Her voice rises from a place of resilience, turning personal struggle into a beacon of hope and change. As a clinical pharmacist and advocate, Sophia's journey reveals how faith and medicine can work together to uplift lives. Dive into her story and discover how one voice can challenge stereotypes and inspire countless others to embrace their own strength.# The Power of Voice in Advocacy

Advocacy takes on new meaning when it comes from personal experience. Let's explore how one voice can make a difference in raising awareness and inspiring change.

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My voice is powerful because of my journey with Sickle Cell

Assalamualaikum. I am Sophia—clinical pharmacist, sickle cell warrior, advocate, author and most important practising revert Muslim of 15 years.

Ever since I I took my first breath… I’ve lived with unpredictability and had to face life’s fragility. Diagnosed from birth with a life-limiting, extremely painful, chronic condition called Sickle Cell Anaemia with no routine cure and limited treatment options; meant dealing with painful episodes known as sickle cell “crisis”, monthly hospitalisations lasting anything from 1-2 weeks to 6 months, a hip replacement, multiple collapsed lungs requiring life support, frequent sepsis, organ failure and regular blood transfusions to remain alive has been my normality for 33years.

Around 6 years of age, Drs gave me a life expectancy of 13 years old - an expiration date; and after that I lived everyday with the fear it was going to be my last. The medical world has tried to fix my body physically —but forgotten that it belongs to a person, a person full of hope, fears, and faith.”

Despite all that my youthful innocence still had dreams and ambitions; one of which was becoming a pharmacist. As a clinical pharmacist, I translated medicine into compassion.

But as I got older, the dreams faded, I had more complications so I became “realistic, lost, believing I had no purpose. It was leaning back into Islam that saved me, rediscovering how Supreme Allah(swt) (God) is and our only purpose as commanded by God is to be his servant, to submit and worship him NOT all the extra stuff western society tells us we should be doing. And that is he alone is the only one knows my expiration date and in the meantime Allah(swt) (God) has given me a purpose; my life (not anyone else's) and experiences in managing my health condition to serve him through.

WHY I USE MY VOICE…?

To show that faith and science don’t clash—they collaborate. To highlight that an Islamic perspective to physical health is necessary to provide holistic treatment and long lasting results in this world and the next. We all have expiry dates, not from man but from Allah(swt) (God) and we need to be comfortable with them and use it as motivation to live purposeful lives to our best ability.

I speak so patients feel recognised—within medical protocols and within spiritual dignity. My voice educates healthcare professionals and breaks stereotypes, bringing warmth and faith-informed empathy to conversations around ill-health and chronic conditions.

By using my voice I can give people knowledge and practical ways lean into their physical or emotional pain. Teach them through my living testimony, not to run from it. Lean into faith. And how this will not only bring them closer to Allah(swt) (God) but positively impact their treatment that healthcare professionals and give them confidence to advocate for themselves and their communities.

All of humanity and every Muslim with sickle cell or any other aliment deserves to feel heard. To feel hope. To feel human.

Sophia

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💜 Want to stay connected?

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