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| |    Sickle Cell: The Forgotten Disease Puts a Human Face on a Little Understood Genetic Disorder New cable program currently airing on the Discovery Health Channel by Mona Behan reviewed by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. Braids flying as her legs pump her ever higher on the swing, Infinity Duncan looks as carefree and energetic as any four-year-old child as she plays in her backyard. But if you study her mother's face as she sits nearby, you might notice that she's watching her daughter just a little more carefully than you might expect in this safe setting. For Stephanie Duncan knows that Infinity's playful nature and seemingly boundless energy mask the fact that she has sickle cell disease. A sudden dip in temperature, a little overexertion, even a failure to take a few sips from the water bottle always on hand might trigger an attack that could damage her daughter's internal organs and leave the little girl wracked with pain. Infinity's link to R&B star Fans of TLC may think that they know a lot about the three sultry divas that comprise this best-selling rhythm-and-blues group. But Tionne Watkins, the lead singer who is better known as T-Boz and was once voted one of People magazine's Most Beautiful People, shares a bond with Infinity Duncan that you won't read about on the websites devoted to the popular group. The 30-year-old singer also has sickle cell disease, and her busy recording and performing schedule is punctuated by frequent trips to the hospital. "Yeah, I get sick," she admits with a shake of the daisy-yellow hair that has become her trademark, "but I don't let it take over me. I stay positive." Genetic disorder affects every aspect of life As revealed in the new cable television special Sickle Cell: The Forgotten Disease, a joint venture of The Dr. Spock Company and the Discovery Health Channel, staying positive isn't easy for the five million people worldwide who are afflicted with sickle cell. This insidious genetic disorder, which can strike people of all races and backgrounds, causes normal rounded and flexible red blood cells to become rigid, sticky, and pointed (or sickle shaped). This inhibits their ability to pass easily through the narrow blood vessels in the body and causes blockages that lead to poor blood flow. Every organ in the body can be robbed of the oxygen it needs to function, resulting in permanent damage and sudden, prolonged bouts of overwhelming pain. Tionne talks about the times the disease has rendered her an invalid, unable to walk or use her arms; at the tender age of four years, Infinity already has suffered three strokes. TV show tells of researchers' quest for a cure Sickle Cell: The Forgotten Disease offers a very personal glimpse into the world of sickle cell, chronicling Tionne's determination to live as normal a life as possible and Stefanie's decision to make her young daughter a medical pioneer. Doctors at Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota, one of only a dozen U.S. facilities doing advanced sickle cell research, explain the causes and far-reaching effects of this often misunderstood affliction, as well as their dramatic efforts to find a long-term treatment-perhaps even a cure. Currently airing on the Discovery Health Channel (check your local TV listings for dates and times), Sickle Cell: The Forgotten Disease provides valuable insight into this common disorder and is sure to move you with its inspiring story of hope and courage. To learn more about sickle cell disease check out the Health and Medical section of drSpock.com.
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