Meet Warrior Sakiyyah D.

📍 Location: Newark-born, Trenton-based
🎗️ Warrior Role: Sickle Cell Warrior, Wife, Mother, Community Health Worker, Hemoglobinopathy Educator
📖 Featured Author: Diary of a Little Warrior (available on Amazon)

💬 Her Story

“My name is Sakiyyah Burwell-Darden, and I proudly stand as a Sickle Cell Warrior.”

Born and raised in Newark, NJ, Sakiyyah now calls Trenton home, where she balances many roles: a devoted wife, mother of three beautiful children, community educator, and advocate. Her journey with Sickle Cell Disease has not only shaped her resilience—it has defined her purpose.

As a Community Health Worker and Hemoglobinopathy Educator with the Sickle Cell Association of New Jersey, Sakiyyah is deeply committed to uplifting others affected by SCD. She brings compassion, lived experience, and deep knowledge to the front lines of education and advocacy—meeting warriors and families where they are, and walking beside them with heart and hope.

During the height of the pandemic, she and her children created something beautiful from a place of shared experience: a children’s book titled “Diary of a Little Warrior.” It tells the story of life with Sickle Cell through the eyes of a child—offering encouragement, honesty, and love. It’s more than a book—it’s a message of family, faith, and the power of telling your story.

🧠 Words of Wisdom

"Life may lead us down unexpected roads and detours, but we must never lose sight of our destination or purpose."

To newly diagnosed warriors and their caregivers, Sakiyyah shares this advice:

“Know your triggers, listen to your body, and remember—Sickle Cell is a part of your story, but it does not get to write the ending.”

You are not powerless. You are not alone. Your voice, your dreams, and your future are still yours to claim.

🔗 Connect with Sakiyyah

📸 Instagram: @FoxeeBrownFotos | @Mrsdarden_Foxeebrown
📚 Diary of a Little Warrior – Now on Amazon