Story told by James Ace, he explains how he deals with Sickle Cell Anemia.

I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and growing up my life had always been filled with the highs and lows of being born with sickle cell anemia. There was not a time when I could not remember being in the hospital and having to deal with all the things that came along with it. Despite the odds against me, I learned how to deal with sickle cell and determined I would not let it stop or define me.

While living with sickle cell, I have managed to graduate from college and get certified in two different areas, the first being graphics art and the second in the medical field. With the many different experiences and complications I have had along the way with sickle cell, I started writing about my life in hopes of inspiring others to keep their head up and to eliminate the stigma associated with the illness. After blood, sweat and tears my writing eventually turned into a story that I could put into a book. I became a published author, which was a huge accomplishment for me. Now as I continue to grow and live with my sickle cell each and every day, I have taken it upon myself to speak out about it. For the sake of others going through the same struggles and challenges that I went through in dealing with this invisible yet painful illness.

My goal is also to enlighten others and bring awareness to this fight that I have been going through my entire life. One of my greatest and most memorable moments was getting called to speak in front of hundreds of people at one of my hometown universities, the university of UW-Madison. Now as I continue my journey, I look forward to speaking more and hope one day to take center stage and speak internationally as well.

Despite having sickle cell, I want to tell others that they can achieve their goals and have success in life!