Hackensack Meridian Health Celebrates Life-Changing Cures for Sickle Cell Patients

Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) has long been a haven for sickle cell patients. The center, which provides bone marrow transplants to children and adults with the disease, most recently added curative gene therapy to its list of available treatments.

The facility’s dedication to quality and innovation has resulted in dozens of grateful, happy, and healthy families who gathered at HMH to celebrate Sickle Cell Awareness Month and life after being cured of the disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 100,000 Americans live with sickle cell disease. Dr. Alfred P. Gillio, M.D. of the Children’s Cancer Institute at Joseph M. Sanzari’s Children’s Hospital, who works closely with the HMH team to treat sickle cell patients, reinforced the life-changing impact that HMH has had.

“It’s an amazing night [here at this reunion],” said Gillio. “We’re celebrating the cure of 80 children with sickle cell. We started doing this in 2002; there have been 80 patients so far, and they’ve all done well. So it’s great to see the back and living their lives. They have normal lives now. So we can cure sickle cell.”

Several other speakers throughout the night discussed the importance of discovering a cure for sickle cell. One of these guest speakers was New Jersey Senator Gordon M. Johnson, whom HMH gifted an embroidered jacket on stage as a token of their appreciation for supporting their cause.

“Me and the legislators in Trenton, every now and then, we do something that we’re really proud of and makes us feel good inside,” said Johnson. “Advocating for this program and a hospital in my district is a great pleasure. I’m honored to do it, and I have great satisfaction because I am indirectly involved in supporting this issue.”

Former NFL player and New England Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty, whose family has a history of sickle cell, was also invited to speak.

“My aunt and uncle both had the disease, and my father carried the traits…,” said McCourty. “My aunt said when she was ten, they told her she’d be lucky to live until she was 35. And now, there are cures out there. There are ways that people can live without this terrible disease, so it’s an honor to play some small part in that happening.”

Like McCourty, the rest of the night was filled with testimonies from other survivors and their families who shared what life looks like post-cure. For instance, author Tyrene Gibson came with her daughter, Aya, who was cured of her sickle cell by HMH in 2012. Tyrene has since chronicled their journey in her book, Mothering the Crescent Moons. Meanwhile, Aya studied at Loyola University New Orleans and received her Master’s in Biomedical Science from Rutgers last May.

Similarly, Folu Okunseinde took to the stage with his mother-in-law, Dr. Cynthia Boakye, M.D., to discuss how his son, Tobi, was cured of sickle cell at HMH in 2022.

“Like many of the families here, our road to cure was a torturous journey,” said Okunseinde. “For us, it included two countries, six hospitals, 11 doctors, and countless hospital stays. As we finally saw our road ending, we looked back with supreme gratitude.” 

He continued by stating that of the 2,500 children with sickle cell, only ten or so receive curative therapy due to a lack of awareness, education, and financial barriers. Okunseinde has since joined the HMH Foundation’s Board of Trustees to continue advocating for families affected by sickle cell.

This event and the fortunate survivors in attendance are proof of the outstanding progress made by HMH and their allies in their ongoing war against sickle cell disease. Now that HMH has pioneered life-saving gene therapy for sickle cell patients, increasing community awareness about the disease is more crucial than ever to helping more people affected by it receive the treatment they need.

As Okunseinde best said, in simpler terms – “Let’s work together to end sickle cell in New Jersey.”