The Walking With Warriors Podcast

Vertex Pharmaceuticals
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Biweekly

Every sickle cell disease (SCD) caregiver's experience is unique and offers valuable insights into what it's really like to care for someone with SCD. Join cohosts Elle Cole and Patrice Sterling as they unpack the ups and downs of daily life with SCD. They'll be joined by other caregivers and people from the community who share their stories and help provide support for anyone along their journey.

Episodes

  1. Mar 10 ·  Bonus

    Our Take: Mentorship for Young Men

    In this episode of “Our Take,” caregiver Patrice speaks with Clayton, an SCD Warrior and mentor for young men with sickle cell disease (SCD). They dive into the challenges young Black men with SCD can face in life and the healthcare system, and the pivotal example a positive role model can have as they shape their futures.

  2. Feb 24

    Episode 6: Navigating Relationships as a Male Caregiver

    For many Warriors, living with sickle cell disease (SCD) is a journey shared with their loved ones and the community. Elle and Patrice are joined by David, an SCD Warrior, who shares his experience finding the strength to move forward from a sickle cell support group for men and his family.

  3. Feb 10

    Our Take: Finding Your Sense of Self

    Caregivers of people with sickle cell disease (SCD) give everything they have got in support of their Warriors and the SCD community. But that generous spirit can make it easy to forget about prioritizing themselves. Caregivers Elle and Patrice share how they carve out time for their own moments of joy on this episode of "Our Take.”

  4. Jan 27

    Episode 5: Managing Burnout

    Caring for someone with sickle cell disease (SCD) can take a toll on a caregiver’s mental well-being, but they may not realize it right away. On this episode, Elle and Patrice share their experiences with burnout and how they find ways to keep it at bay.

  5. Jan 13 ·  Bonus

    Our Take: Finding the Words for SCD

    For sickle cell disease (SCD) caregivers, conversations about SCD take place anytime and anywhere—not just in a doctor’s office. In this episode of “Our Take,” caregivers Patrice and Elle share how they speak up for their Warriors’ needs, and their own, when SCD is involved.

  6. Jan 6

    Episode 4: Transition From Pediatric to Adult Care

    The transition from pediatric care to adult care is one of the most important times in a sickle cell disease (SCD) Warrior’s life. From choosing a new healthcare provider to changing family dynamics, the ability to have open and honest conversations is key. SCD Warrior and Patrice’s son, Jonathan, joins the podcast to share his experience navigating the shift.

  7. 12/16/2025 ·  Bonus

    Our Take: Processing Guilt

    Many caregivers of people with sickle cell disease (SCD) silently carry the burden of guilt. In this episode of “Our Take,” Elle and Patrice discuss some of their most vulnerable moments with guilt on their caregiver journeys, and how they’ve taken steps to release it so they can move forward.

  8. 12/02/2025

    Episode 3: Navigating Relationships

    Caring for someone with sickle cell disease (SCD) often means balancing many kinds of relationships. SCD caregiver Katrina joins Elle and Patrice to talk about how they’ve allowed their relationships with their Warriors to evolve over time, and how they’ve deepened their connections to support systems.

  9. 11/18/2025 ·  Bonus

    Our Take: Advocating for Warriors in the Healthcare System

    For caregivers, watching your Warrior transition from pediatric to adult care can come with many concerns. In this episode of “Our Take,” caregivers Elle and Patrice get real about the importance of a trusted care team and how to help prepare Warriors to make their voices heard in the healthcare system.

  10. 11/04/2025

    Episode 2: The Long-term Impact of SCD

    Sickle cell disease (SCD) can affect many parts of the body over time. Hematologist Dr Sharl Azar explains why it’s so important for caregivers and Warriors to start working closely with their care teams early to help manage the long-term effects.

  11. 10/22/2025 ·  Bonus

    Our Take: The Power of Advocacy

    For caregivers Elle and Patrice, finding their places in the sickle cell disease (SCD) community took time and effort. In this episode of “Our Take,” they discuss how they took those first steps to connect with community members they now consider family.

  12. 10/07/2025

    Episode 1: Building Community

    Elle and Patrice speak with Elsa, a mother and sickle cell disease (SCD) caregiver and advocate, about the importance of finding common ground in the community, and how support from family and other caregivers helps them through challenging times.

  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Every sickle cell disease (SCD) caregiver's experience is unique and offers valuable insights into what it's really like to care for someone with SCD. Join cohosts Elle Cole and Patrice Sterling as they unpack the ups and downs of daily life with SCD. They'll be joined by other caregivers and people from the community who share their stories and help provide support for anyone along their journey.

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