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The Baffour family home must be filled with lots of music as Vanessa practices the cello, and her sisters Vera and Tamara play the piano. Vanessa dreams of becoming a concert cellist. Being a sophomore at Douglas Anderson, a member of the orchestra and a top student takes lots of time and commitment. All goes well until sickle cell anemia, an inherited blood disease, interrupts her life and Vanessa finds herself in Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Then, the courage and perseverance that it takes to deal with her illness shows itself, and it is very clear why Vanessa Baffour is an amazing young woman.
Sickle cell is strictly inherited and occurs in 50 percent of children born to parents both carrying the sickle cell trait. An abnormal amount of hemoglobin on red blood cells causes the cells to stiffen and form in the shape of a boomerang or sickle. This shape prevents them from moving easily through the tiny blood vessels in the body causing intense pain episodes. Side effects often produce stroke, delayed growth, infection, and pneumonia. Sickle cell patients must learn pain management and ways to keep the sickle cell crises under control. To keep the cells from stiffening, Vanessa knows that she has to drink plenty of water to stay well-hydrated, she must keep warm, and steer clear of people who are sick.
Before moving to Jacksonville a few years ago, Vanessa’s parents, Elizabeth and Owiredu, made sure that there was medical care available for Vanessa. They are thankful for Dr. Gauger, the Nemours’ Hematology Clinic and Wolfson Children’s Hospital – all so necessary for her care. First admitted to Wolfson Children’s in the 6th grade, Vanessa has repeated this cycle several times. She gets pneumonia, goes to the ER and is admitted until the crisis is brought under control. One time Vanessa remembers feeling dizzy at school, and then she passed out in the hall. This time, she was in the hospital for about three weeks until she became stable enough to go home.
At first she didn’t want to tell anyone about her illness. She has to limit herself physically, and she remembers the embarrassment of not even being able to run a mile during PE. Now, she shares her challenge with her closest friend Kalyn, who came to see her every day during her last month-long stay in the hospital. It’s a time that can be especially lonely for a teen whose parents must work, but Vanessa also perks up when she sees her favorite Wolfson nurse, Bionca.
Vanessa is really glad that Wolfson Children’s Hospital has a teen room and the Jag Room to fill the hours that she is hospitalized. Wolfson Children’s cares about our kids! |
