Dental care is often overlooked—but for people living with sickle cell disease or carrying the sickle cell trait, it can be a critical part of staying healthy and preventing serious complications. In this powerful and eye-opening episode of Blood, Sweat, and Cells: Real Talk About Sickle Cell Disease, host Valerie Pearson Bey sits down with Linda Chandler Jacobs, registered dental hygienist, educator, advocate, and founder of The Potter's Smile, the only 501(c)(3) dental practice in the U.S. dedicated to serving patients with sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait.

With more than 50 years of experience—and lived experience as someone who carries the sickle cell trait herself—Linda explains how oral health is deeply connected to overall health. She shares why hydration, infection prevention, medication disclosure, and coordination with hematologists are essential; why extractions and implants can pose serious risks; and why patients must advocate for themselves by informing and even interviewing their dental providers. This episode is a must-listen for sickle cell warriors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals who want to understand how informed dental care can help prevent pain crises, infections, and long-term complications.

🎧 Tune in to learn how protecting your smile can help protect your whole body—and why dental knowledge can be lifesaving.

For information about The Potter's Smile oe to send them an email with questions about dental care for patients with sickle cell disease or the sickle cell trait.

visit https://www.thepotterssmile.org

The Inova Adult Sickle Cell Center recommends The Nova Dental Clinic novadentalclinic.org

for persons living in Northern Virginia

We all love a good holiday meal with turkey, sides, and sweet desserts — but for people with sickle cell disease or compromised immune systems, a foodborne illness can be far more than an inconvenience. It can be a serious health threat.

I'm your host, Valerie Bey, board member with The Heart of Gold Sickle Cell Foundation of Northern Virginia. In this episode of Blood, Sweat & Cells: Real Talk About Sickle Cell Disease, I'm joined by Jodi King and Ian Armstrong, Environmental Health Specialists with the Fairfax County Health Department. Together, we break down why foodborne illness poses higher risks for people with sickle cell disease, especially during the busy holiday season.

We'll explore the most common holiday food-safety pitfalls — buffets, leftovers, undercooked meats, dairy risks, cross-contamination — and share practical, actionable steps you can take right now to stay healthy and enjoy your celebrations without worry.

For food-safety information, guidance on reporting suspected foodborne illness, and to view local inspection reports, visit:
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/food

For national guidelines, education, and tips on safely buying, storing, preparing, and serving food — especially important for anyone at higher risk — visit:
https://www.fda.gov/food

From the series: Blood, Sweat & Cells: Real Talk About Sickle Cell Disease

When Tatyana decided to stop her medication so she could have a child, she knew there would be risks. But nothing could have prepared her for the relentless pain that followed or the heartbreak of missing her baby's first milestones while fighting for her own life.

In this deeply moving third episode of our special series on half-matched bone marrow transplants, we hear from Tatyana, a 30-year-old sickle cell warrior who refused to give up. From pregnancy complications and endless hospital stays to a life-changing decision made from her hospital bed, Tatyana opens up about her emotional journey toward healing and the day her younger brother became her half-match donor.

This is a story of a mother's love, a family's strength, and a medical breakthrough offering hope to thousands living with sickle cell disease.

For anyone who'd like to learn more about this procedure, you can visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/transplant/programs/bone-marrow