Stroke is one of the most serious complications of sickle cell disease – and one of the most preventable. Yet many people living with SCD, and parents of children with SCD, have never had a clear explanation of their risk, what to watch for, or what can actually be done about it.

This masterclass changes that. Join Dr Lewis Thomas, UK trained Family Doctor, founder of The Sickleverse, and someone living with sickle cell disease himself — for a session covering everything you need to know about stroke risk in sickle cell disease.

In this session you'll learn:

-What a stroke actually is — and why time is the most critical factor
-Exactly how sickle cell disease causes strokes, and who is most at risk
-The hidden danger of silent strokes
-How strokes are prevented, including TCD screening, Exchange Blood Transfusions and Hydroxyurea
-What to expect after a stroke, and how recovery and rehabilitation works

The session includes 30 minute Q+A, and is open to adults living with SCD, parents, carers, and anyone wanting to understand this topic better.
If you have a question you'd like to submit for the Q+A in advance you can do so here.

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This session is for educational purposes and does not constitute individual medical advice.

Sickle cell treatment can feel confusing.

You might be taking medications or hearing about therapies…
but no one has really explained how it all fits together.

In this session, we’ll slow everything down and make it clear.

You’ll learn:

• What common medications like folic acid, penicillin, and hydroxyurea actually do

• How hydroxyurea works inside the body — and why it’s often misunderstood

• When blood transfusions are used and what they’re doing for you

• Why iron overload happens and how it’s managed

• The difference between managing symptoms and aiming for a cure

• How treatments like bone marrow transplant and gene therapy fit into the bigger picture

You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of your options, more confidence in your care, and the ability to make more informed decisions about your health.

Whether you’re taking treatment already, considering your options, or just want to understand things properly - this session is for you.

There will be time for questions at the end.

Before you attend!

Please complete the short pre-session check below.
It takes under a minute and helps shape the session and support future sickle cell education.

👉 Pre Session Survey

Your responses are anonymous and help demonstrate impact and secure continued funding.

👉 Submit your Question for the Q+A

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Sickle cell retinopathy is one of the most important — and least talked about — long-term complications of sickle cell disease.

It often develops quietly.

Many people don’t realise anything is happening until vision is affected.

This session is designed to give you a clear, practical understanding of what’s happening inside the eye and what that means for you long term.

We’ll explore:

• How sickle cell affects the tiny blood vessels in the retina

• Why certain changes happen in the outer parts of the eye first

• What different stages of retinopathy mean

• The kinds of symptoms that should never be ignored

• What treatment approaches exist

• How screening fits into long-term prevention

• What you can do to reduce your overall risk

By the end of the masterclass, you should feel clearer about how retinopathy develops, what matters most, and how to protect your vision over time.

This is the second Sickleverse Live Masterclass!

Avascular necrosis is one of the most common long-term complications in sickle cell disease - yet many people only hear about it after pain has already started affecting their mobility.

In this session, we’ll slow everything down and make it clear.

You’ll learn:

• What avascular necrosis actually is, in plain language

• Why certain joints are more vulnerable

• The early signs that are often missed

• Why X-rays can look normal at first

• How AVN progresses over time

• When surgery might be considered - and why timing matters

• Practical strategies to protect your joints without giving up movement

You'll leave being able to make informed decisions, protect your mobility, and stay independent for as long as possible.

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with AVN, are experiencing joint pain, or simply want to understand your long-term risk, this session is for you.

This is the very first Sickleverse Live Masterclass!

Fatigue is one of the most common and most limiting parts of living with sickle cell, even outside of pain crises.

In this live masterclass, we’ll reframe fatigue as a predictable part of living with chronic anaemia and explore what’s actually happening in the body, why rest doesn’t always fix it, and what genuinely helps over the long term.

We’ll cover:

• Why haemoglobin is lower in sickle cell and how this leads to fatigue

• How fatigue can affect both physical and mental energy

• Why sleep alone doesn’t always resolve tiredness

• Common factors that can worsen fatigue, including infection, mood, and nutritional deficiencies

• Safe, realistic strategies that help reduce how much fatigue limits daily life

This session is patient-centred, practical, and focused on understanding rather than judgement.