News from MSCF
Sickle Cell Disease: After Years Of Neglect Some Promise For Sufferers - Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2020/02/17/sickle-cell-disease-after-years-of-neglect-some-promise-for-sufferers/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2020/02/17/sickle-cell-disease-after-years-of-neglect-some-promise-for-sufferers/
In the News: via UMMC
Half match, whole hope: state’s first pediatric haploidentical transplant patient free from sickle cell
Published on Monday, December 9, 2019
By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu
Published on Monday, December 9, 2019
By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu

What if a cure for your child’s life-threatening sickle cell disease depended on finding a match for a bone marrow transplant?
That was the situation Darold and Joneaset Mitchell of Flowood faced with daughter Kali, who became the first pediatric patient to receive a haploidentical bone marrow transplant in Mississippi. The transplant was performed by Children’s of Mississippi hematologist/oncologist Dr. Dereck Davis. Read the Full Article Here
That was the situation Darold and Joneaset Mitchell of Flowood faced with daughter Kali, who became the first pediatric patient to receive a haploidentical bone marrow transplant in Mississippi. The transplant was performed by Children’s of Mississippi hematologist/oncologist Dr. Dereck Davis. Read the Full Article Here
2018-2019 MSCF Poster Child

Sequoia Yates is our 2018-2019 MSCF Poster Child. She is 14 years old, and is the daughter of Margaret Yates. She is a freshman at Noxubee County High School, where she is a member of the junior varsity cheerleading squad. She loves to sing, dance, cheer, dress up, attend pageants, and spend time with family. She is also a member of Mt. Olive M.B. Church, where she participates in the youth choir. As a member of the mentoring group - A Journey Of Our Youth - she has had the opportunity to go on many adventures and learn about finer womanhood. Despite having Sickle Cell Anemia SS, she has had a fairly normal childhood. An eight-year veteran of Camp Sickle Stars, she says the camp is like her second home and the people there have grown to be her second family. Camp has played a major role in her life because It taught her to love life, accomplish goals and find her inner strength to not allow her illness to define her.
2018 Iyer-Smith Scholarship Winner

Nathaniel Ross and Tykiera James are our 2018 Iyer-Smith Scholarship recipients. Nathaniel is a graduate of Clinton High School, and currently attending Hinds Community College. Nathaniel says, “I will work hard to get my Associate Degree in Computer Programming Technology.” His future goal is to develop his own line of video games, and introduce the next generation to 3-D designs, programming concepts and various applications. He received $1,000.
Tykiera, our 2013-2014 Mississippi Sickle Cell Foundation’s poster child, is the first recipient to receive this scholarship as a Sickle Cell Survivor! Two years ago, Tykiera received a stem cell transplant, and is now Sickle Cell free! She attends Hinds Community College with plans to continue her education at Mississippi State University. Tykiera says, “My dream is to become a pediatrician that specializes in Sickle Cell Disease, so that I may help our future Sickle Cell Warriors. This way they will have a doctor that understands their point of view and knows exactly how they feel about pain, medications, and treatment options.” She received $3,000.
Tykiera, our 2013-2014 Mississippi Sickle Cell Foundation’s poster child, is the first recipient to receive this scholarship as a Sickle Cell Survivor! Two years ago, Tykiera received a stem cell transplant, and is now Sickle Cell free! She attends Hinds Community College with plans to continue her education at Mississippi State University. Tykiera says, “My dream is to become a pediatrician that specializes in Sickle Cell Disease, so that I may help our future Sickle Cell Warriors. This way they will have a doctor that understands their point of view and knows exactly how they feel about pain, medications, and treatment options.” She received $3,000.
2018 Markeda Mims Scholarship Winner

The Markeda Mims Scholarship was presented to a graduate of Clarksdale High School, who finished 28th out of 163 students with a 3.6 grade point average.
Cairecia Thomas received a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate while in high school and plans to become a nurse.
She is majoring in biology at the University of Mississippi.
She receives a $1,200 renewable scholarship for the four years she’s at Ole Miss.
Cairecia Thomas received a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate while in high school and plans to become a nurse.
She is majoring in biology at the University of Mississippi.
She receives a $1,200 renewable scholarship for the four years she’s at Ole Miss.