Race for Our Kids 2017-Meet Deshawna

Sixteen-year-old Deshawna Bryant has been a patient at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore since the second week of her life after being diagnosed with hemoglobin S-C disease, a form of sickle cell anemia.

Deshawna's mother, Yolanda, learned during her pregnancy that she had the sickle cell trait. Her father, Sean, had tested negative for the sickle cell trait, but later discovered that he carried the hemoglobin C trait. The combination of the two traits she inherited has caused serious complications for Deshawna.

Deshawna had to go to Sinai Hospital every six weeks during the first five years of her life for precautionary blood work. Her disease was more manageable over the next nine years, and she was only required to come in once a year for testing during that period. Things were going pretty well until her condition worsened shortly after her 15th birthday during a family vacation. On the third day of the vacation, which was her eighth-grade graduation present, Deshawna was fatigued and did not have much of an appetite, only craving Pepsi and cherries. She felt too weak to leave her room. Her family, worried that she had food poisoning, rushed her back home for a checkup. At ExpressCare, they learned that she had contracted infectious mononucleosis (mono) and had a fever of 103 degrees, conditions which complicated her disease. In addition, her spleen was enlarged and she was in extreme pain. Deshawna also had pneumonia. She was admitted for a five-night stay at Sinai for treatment.

Deshawna experienced more complications in November 2015 that were triggered by the cold temperatures of late fall. Her spleen had once again enlarged and she was experiencing chest pain and having trouble breathing. She began a multi-week cycle of staying in the hospital for a week and returning home for up to two days. In early 2016, she had her gallbladder removed, and later that year her spleen was removed. Her family prayed often. For a while, Deshawna ate only Honey Nut Cheerios because it was the only food that didn't make her sick. She ended up missing four months of school. The rather mild winter weather in early 2017 didn't affect Deshawna's health as severely as the previous year's weather did. Walking up many flights of stairs at school, however, took quite a toll on her, and she ended up back in the emergency room.

But through every hospital stay, Deshawna has had an incredible support system. Her mother stays with her for just about every overnight hospital stay. On the rare occasion that her mother can't stay overnight, an aunt or close friend takes her place. Deshawna is very grateful for her family, but also loves the staff at Sinai. Natha is Deshawna's "spirit animal" (their birthdays are one day apart). Deshawna says every nurse is incredible and calls Dr. Yoram T. Unguru her "main man." She appreciates how Dr. Unguru always answers all of her questions in detail, tells her where he's been when she hasn't seen him, and can handle her jokes and sarcasm. He lovingly calls her "Big Trouble." Having been a patient at Sinai her entire life certainly makes the staff at Sinai part of Deshawna's already large and special family.

The Bryant household is full of love and positive energy. The baby of the family, Deshawna has seven older brothers and two foster brothers who all look out for her. Some tease her, of course, as brothers do, but she gives it right back to them. Sean, who picked Deshawna's name, works in construction and is the elder at the family's church. Yolanda is a missionary in addition to being an incredible mom and foster parent advocate.

A student at public magnet high school Baltimore City College, Deshawna likes English and history. She wants to attend college in Jacksonville, Fla. (so she can be near her grandmother and in a warm environment) and study psychology and sociology. In addition to her academics, she loves to travel and read.

Deshawna jokes that as someone who isn't very athletic, she's glad that the upcoming Race for Our Kids event will have a family walk as an alternative to the chip-timed races.

Join Deshawna and her family in celebrating the 13th annual Race for Our Kids on Sept. 17. There will be chip-timed 5K and 10K races as well as a one-mile Family Fun Walk. A post-race party will follow. All proceeds from the event will benefit The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai.