Love and Loss Revisited: October Reflections

Oct 31

Love and Loss Revisited 😔❤️

This October has been a month of reflection—a season of love, loss, and revisiting the lessons life has taught me.

Right before I went into the hospital, I celebrated my **10th wedding anniversary** with my husband. We celebrated on **October 7**, marking **10 years together**—a milestone filled with love, laughter, and gratitude. Little did I know that just days later, I would take sick. That contrast—joy followed by challenge—reminded me how life can shift so quickly, yet still hold purpose in every season.

I was also discouraged that I couldn’t attend SC Red Reproductive woman’s panel on October 18 during the 53rd Annual SCDAA Convention, an opportunity I had prayed for and was so excited to receive earlier this year. Though I’ve been featured in magazines and my voice has been heard, stepping into this new season as an advocate and community health worker has brought both challenges and growth.

After taking sick, everyone around me—including the director who reached out regarding the opportunity—encouraged me to step back and recover. At first, I felt like I was missing out, but that same day, October 18 also a workshop hosted by the local church I attend *C.F.C.B.M.T.* , ***Waiting to Exit Hell***. I found myself exactly where I needed to be: at my church where **Dr. Katrina Ferguson**, a multi-millionaire entrepreneur, philanthropist, and powerful woman of God, was speaking.

Her message reminded me that purpose doesn’t always show up in the way we expect. I couldn’t be in two places at once, but I was grateful for that divine redirection. Instead of being on the panel, I was in a space of learning, spiritual alignment, and clarity—gaining insight about how I want to move forward and continue impacting the sickle cell community through **Red Stick Sickle Cell** and **Warriors Speak Out**.

Revisiting this moment showed me that loss doesn’t always have to feel like defeat. There is love, compassion, and divine timing even in what we cannot control.

Seven years ago, I attended the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Annual Convention as a community health worker and educator under the leadership of Lori Burgess at the Sickle Cell Association of Louisiana. That experience awakened me to the importance of advocacy, awareness, self-advocacy, and self-awareness. It was there that I first understood my calling.