Picture Imperfect!

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Aeisha is a voice of strength and endurance! She told us her story about her Short Gut Syndrome and awaiting another transplant. We admire her faith and resilience! Stay tuned for more from her! Your following and likes matters!

At first, I did not like my scars. Especially after my shoulder surgery, an individual in a store asked me if I was in a car accident after seeing my scar when I was wearing a tank-top. I used to hide my IV scars because a nurse asked if they were from drug-use while I was in a sickle cell crisis. Through the midst of feeling ashamed, I realized that these scars are my story; they're storytellers. Conversation starters in a way. I look like an "normal" person from the outside, however they are the maps of my journey and I know my story is still be written. When I look in the mirror they are reminders of when sickle cell tried to break me but failed.

My daughter inspires me everyday and night. My career is highly focused on scientific research on sickle cell disease. From a young age, I always said I wanted to become a doctor. I didn't know what type but I knew that I wanted to educate and research this disease that I live with everyday. However, I always said I wanted to be a mom first and foremost. Right after my first shoulder replacement, I had a regular OB/GYN appointment. At the end, the physician told me that I need to go on birth control right away. I questioned this because I was not seeking to go on birth control. Their reasoning was "You cannot have children because you have too much of a risk dying getting pregnant." Mentally, I was distraught and went into a deep depression because I thought sickle cell robbed me of the one dream I had to be a mother. Once Bryan and I began family planning, I knew two things. One, I found the right person to go through this journey with me and two, we will not let doctors dictate of what miracles can happen. On June 18, 2021, my beautiful baby girl named Autumn was born through C-Section, without her having any withdrawal symptoms, didn't have to go to the NICU, and was full-term. Today, she is a vibrant, smart, and funny 2-year old that loves her family and knows how her mom has pain everyday but yet says "mommy is pretty", "mommy is taking her medicine, mommy in pain", "mommy has sickle cell", and the best of all "I love you more". She is my greatest gift, accomplishment, and brightens my day despite all the pain I feel in my body everyday.

We had the chance to hear his story of growing up with an abusive parent and resorting to fights with other kids growing up. His invisible scar is his emotional trauma and his visible scars are left behind from those fights. He is now an established model, actor, and poet living in NYC and has put fighting behind unless it is called for on set.
"I think my broken hand shows that I never gave up even when I probably should have. It shows my passion. "

I struggled with dealing with the standards of weight in the modeling industry. It was either being too thin or plus size. I fell in the middle and still love my body and won't let it stop me!

"Learn in your own way how to love your own body"

I was visiting one of my friends at her university and she forgot her key to get in, and we had to jump the fence. I slipped and and cut myself. At first I was really upset about it and didn’t want to show anyone but then I realized I’m such a big fan of Anime and action movies, it actually looked super cool and it was a unique feature. It’s always a funny conversation starter too!