Love, Loss, and Legacy: Me’Chelle and Kee’Doria’s Caregiving Journey

Me’Chelle says that, “watching her grow up was difficult.  She wasn’t allowed to participate in many activities and functions because her illness was agitated by so many factors such as weather, climate, temperature, water and countless other things.  Unable to be a carefree kid, she became my little smart genius! Kee’Doria loved reading and researching.  Particularly researching her disease, Sickle Cell Anemia.  Many times, school and holidays were brought to her in a hospital room.  With much hard work and will power, my little genius graduated!  However, due to Sickle Cell’s unpredictability, employment was basically impossible; though she had a strong desire to do so much more than her body and physical abilities would allow.”

At age 19, Kee’Doria gave birth to a set of twins Arian and Ariana.  She again gave birth at age 24 to a son, Dorian. Her babies were the joy of her life.  By this time, Sickle Cell seemed to have taken a vengeance on her body.  She required triple the amount of admissions, blood transfusions and blood exchanges.  There were certainly good days, but her crisis became more frequent and were much more severe. 

In September 2012, Kee’Doria put all her research to good use and created the Sickle Cell Support Group, “Sickle Cell Unite” via Facebook. In this safe space, Kee’Doria shared her thoughts, feelings and poetry with group members. The group was also a place where group members could support each other. Group members advocated for one another and found commonalities in their shared experience. In addition, to Sickle Cell disease itself, many of the members shared the same heartbreaking reality; including mistreatment by medical staff and being labeled a drug seeker due to the medications needed to provide relief from the painful disorder. Kee’Doria was a fierce advocate, hence she was one of Facebook’s most active advocates for the Sickle Cell Community.
Me’chelle: Kee’Doria’s mother, Caregiver, and Primary Source of Support
Throughout Kee’Doria’s journey, Me’chelle remained by her side, loving, supporting her whenever she was needed. Before her children, Me’chelle spent many restless nights at hospitals, then leaving for work by morning, only to return the same night, for weeks at a time.  After the birth of her children, during Kee’Doria’s monthly admissions to the hospital, Me’chelle ensured that her grandchildren made it to school and daycare. She completed a full day of work, checked in on her, picked her children back up, prepared them for school and daycare the next day only to wake up and restart the routine the very next day.  The older Kee’Doria got, the longer her hospitals stay became. Me’chelle was by her daughter’s side loving, caring, and supporting her as she battled the relentless disease. 

On May 2016, at age 28, Kee’Doria passed away due to complications of Sickle Cell.  Me’chelle said

Kee’Doria

that, “losing her that day was the worst day of my life. I lost MY first born, MY fighter, My Kiki.” Me’chelle experiences a sadness that is unlike no other. Yet, she finds some comfort in knowing that Kee’Doria’s legacy will live on through her children and Sickle Cell UniteSupport Group.