For Marqué, a mother and caregiver of 2 Warriors, the first few days of motherhood were just what she imagined—until they weren’t.

“When my son was born, he was perfect. But I got a call on a Friday about 5:25 PM from the pediatrician. She said, ‘Well, I got some bad and some pretty worrisome news. Your son has tested positive for sickle cell disease.’ I had absolutely no idea what she’s talking about. I didn’t know what to do with that information.”

“When my son was born, he was perfect. But I got a call on a Friday about 5:25 PM from the pediatrician. She said, ‘Well, I got some bad and some pretty worrisome news. Your son has tested positive for sickle cell disease.’ I had absolutely no idea what she’s talking about. I didn’t know what to do with that information.”

And then, just 10 months later, another surprise: Marqué was expecting again. During her pregnancy, she found out her second son also had sickle cell disease. While this too came as a bit of a shock, she felt more prepared than when her first son was diagnosed.

Marqué relied on her faith, drive, and determination to provide her sons with the best care from day 1. This included lots of honest conversations and encouraging them to be part of the discussions with their healthcare team as soon as they were ready. Since their pre-teen days, Marqué has shown her 2 Warriors how to advocate for their needs. There would come a time when she may not be with them during a pain crisis. She wanted her sons to feel prepared. As she explains, “I sat in the visits and the doctor would say, ‘How’s he doing?’ I'd be like, ‘He’s sitting right there. I need you to talk to him. Because he needs to know how to talk to you.’”

Marqué relied on her faith, drive, and determination to provide her sons with the best care from day 1. This included lots of honest conversations and encouraging them to be part of the discussions with their healthcare team as soon as they were ready. Since their pre-teen days, Marqué has shown her 2 Warriors how to advocate for their needs. There would come a time when she may not be with them during a pain crisis. She wanted her sons to feel prepared. As she explains, “I sat in the visits and the doctor would say, ‘How’s he doing?’ I'd be like, ‘He’s sitting right there. I need you to talk to him. Because he needs to know how to talk to you.’”

Over the years, Marqué showed her Warriors how to be good communicators with their care team. She explained how to ask for what they needed. And it worked. Her Warriors are now in their early 20s and she is beginning to take a step back as their caregiver.

Over the years, Marqué showed her Warriors how to be good communicators with their care team. She explained how to ask for what they needed. And it worked. Her Warriors are now in their early 20s and she is beginning to take a step back as their caregiver.

This change doesn’t just impact her sons—this change of responsibilities is the beginning of a new chapter for Marqué as well. “This is the hardest season I think for me now. It's not really about me stepping away—it's about me stepping away and not responding.”

This has been a turning point for the entire family. Now that her sons are 20 and 21, Marqué has more time on her hands and is exploring what her next chapter looks like. She’s focused on her non-profit, is busy making sure other SCD families have the information and resources they need, and recently expanded their family in another way. With a laugh, she says, “I looked at my husband… and I’m like, I need a dog!”

This has been a turning point for the entire family. Now that her sons are 20 and 21, Marqué has more time on her hands and is exploring what her next chapter looks like. She’s focused on her non-profit, is busy making sure other SCD families have the information and resources they need, and recently expanded their family in another way. With a laugh, she says, “I looked at my husband… and I’m like, I need a dog!”

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