About Me

Hello, I'm Valancia C., born in Haiti in the 1980s with Sickle Cell Beta Thalassemia, a time when medical technology differed greatly from what we have today. Consequently, my family made the brave decision to immigrate to the United States when I was still very young, believing it would offer me a better chance at life.

Growing up with Sickle Cell, in the US provided me with invaluable opportunities to learn about my condition; opportunities I might not have had if I'd been raised in Haiti. The knowledge and life experiences I've gathered throughout my journey have empowered me to establish KnowThySickle, LLC. As a Health Coach for Sickle Cell and a Sickle Cell Warrior of 40 years, my mission is to help individuals gain a deeper understanding of our illness, enabling them to live more peaceful lives, despite Sickle Cell's challenges.

Living with Sickle Cell has been a hard journey. I've endured many hospitalizations, received many blood transfusions, lost the function of my spleen at an early age, battled acute chest syndromes, had numerous pneumonia diagnoses, undergone gallbladder removal as a teen, experienced a blood exchange procedure while pregnant and unconscious in the ICU, suffered a minor stroke (TIA) that temporarily impaired my vision,  and I am currently grappling with complications from a blocked Superior Vena Cava due to a former port incision.

Despite these formidable challenges, I've learned to triumph and find gratitude in each day I'm fortunate enough to be alive.

As a Health Coach with four decades of experience as a Sickle Cell Warrior, my aim is to help you gain a deeper understanding of your illness, so you can embrace and love life.

A few notable facts about me:

- I've dedicated over 1,000 hours to volunteering with various organizations focused on Sickle Cell.

- I was honored as Miss Humanitarian of my high school class by former Mayor Glenda Hood.

- I previously  held the title of Miss Florida Teen, securing 3rd-runner up, with Sickle Cell as my platform.

- I had the privilege of being a Make-A-Wish wish recipient and traveled to Paris, France.

- I was both a former Camp Boggy Creek Camper and Leader in Training (LIT) camper.

- I earned two scholarships for my volunteer work, which helped fund my college education.

- During college, I volunteered and worked at a blood bank for three years.

- I hold a bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Central Florida.

- I worked in Corporate America for several years before becoming medically disabled during my pregnancies.

- I am the mother of two children with the Sickle Cell trait.

- I took time off to focus on my health and later transitioned into the role of a stay-at-home & homeschooling mom.

- During my time at home, I prioritized my health and learned how to manage my Sickle Cell Disease through proper nutrition, exercise, and adequate rest (sleep), I have learned to live peacefully with Sickle Cell and decrease my hospitalizations.

- I founded "The Warrior House, Inc.," a 501c3 nonprofit organization that supports young Sickle Cell Warriors in transitioning to adult care while teaching them how to navigate life with their condition. You can find more information at www.warrior-house.com.

- I established KnowThySickleCD, LLC, as a means to inspiree and assist Sickle Cell Disease Warriors in understanding their condition in order to live more enriching lives.