“Warriors Still Rising: A Conversation on Life, Strength, and Sickle Cell”
- Brother Levon X
- a few seconds ago
- 4 min read
The Power of Your Voice: Turning Pain Into Purpose
By BLXCR Editorial Team: Some conversations do more than inform — they affirm. They reach the parts of us shaped by struggle and remind us that we are not walking alone.
A recent episode of The Advocate: The Power of Your Voice on NSTV Long Island, thoughtfully hosted by Sister Stacey Sottile, was one such conversation.
In this episode, Sister Stacey sat down with Sister Misa Masters, a gym owner, fitness trainer, mother, and sickle cell advocate, for an open and deeply grounded discussion about living with sickle cell anemia, redefining strength, and learning how to take ownership of one’s health without denying the realities of chronic illness.
Living With Sickle Cell: Beyond the Medical Definition
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited, lifelong blood disorder caused by a genetic mutation affecting hemoglobin. Instead of healthy, round red blood cells that move freely through the body, individuals with sickle cell disease have rigid, crescent-shaped cells that can block blood flow. This can lead to severe pain crises, chronic fatigue, anemia, increased risk of infection, and long-term organ damage.
While these clinical facts are important, they rarely capture the lived experience of those carrying the condition. Many are diagnosed at birth and grow up learning endurance before they are taught self-care. This truth framed the conversation between Sister Stacey and Sister Misa, grounding the discussion in humanity rather than statistics.
Diagnosed at Birth, But Not Defined by It
Sister Misa Masters was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at birth. Raised in foster care, her early life was shaped by both physical illness and emotional instability. Hospital visits were frequent, pain was familiar, and for many years survival felt like the primary objective.
During the conversation, Sister Misa shared how that trajectory began to shift when she made a conscious decision to take responsibility for her health. What started as a desire to lose weight evolved into a deeper commitment to understanding her body, respecting its limits, and strengthening it through consistent movement, improved nutrition, and disciplined habits.
Over time, she noticed significant changes. Hospital visits became less frequent, pain crises became more manageable, and her confidence in her body grew. Sickle cell did not disappear from her life, but it no longer controlled the direction of it.
Redefining Strength Through Lived Experience
One of the most meaningful moments in the discussion came when Sister Stacey and Sister Misa addressed how strength is often misunderstood in people living with sickle cell disease. There is a persistent assumption that illness must look a certain way, and when someone does not fit that image, their experience is questioned.
Sister Misa spoke candidly about how her athletic appearance often surprises people. Not as a point of validation, but as an opportunity to expand the definition of strength. For her, strength is not about denying pain, but about giving oneself grace in moments of weakness and still choosing to rise.
Her affirmation, “I’m a warrior. I step forward and fight,” reflects a mindset forged through experience, not performance.
Motherhood, Motivation, and Quiet Understanding
The conversation also explored how living with sickle cell intersects with motherhood. As a mother to a teenage son, Sister Misa shared that many lessons are passed down not through explanation, but through example. Her son has witnessed her navigate difficult days, adapt when rest is necessary, and continue building a life grounded in discipline and care.
Sister Stacey reflected on how children often motivate parents to strive for better, not perfection. In Sister Misa’s home, sickle cell has cultivated patience, understanding, and teamwork — showing that strength and vulnerability can coexist.
Faith, Fitness, and Listening to the Body
Another deeply resonant portion of the discussion centered on midlife health, including perimenopause, and how it intersects with chronic illness. Sister Misa described recognizing changes in energy, recovery, and performance, and responding with awareness rather than resistance.
She shared how she adjusted her fitness approach to include mobility, joint care, refined nutrition, herbal support, and supplementation. Throughout these shifts, faith remained central — anchoring her discipline, patience, and long-term perspective on wellness.
A Conversation Rooted in Advocacy and Voice
Throughout the episode, Sister Stacey guided the dialogue with care and intention, reinforcing the purpose of The Advocate: The Power of Your Voice: to uplift lived experiences, challenge stigma, and encourage self-advocacy. Together, Sister Stacey and Sister Misa emphasized that wellness is personal, rest is necessary, and advocacy often begins with learning to speak honestly about one’s needs.
For those living with sickle cell disease, or loving someone who is, the conversation served as reassurance that while the condition may be lifelong, hopelessness does not have to be.
Moving Forward With Hope and Purpose
Sister Misa Masters’ story is not about denying pain or minimizing hardship. It is about refusing to let those realities define the limits of her life. From foster care to fitness leadership, from hospital beds to gym floors, her journey reflects what becomes possible when discipline, self-compassion, and faith move together.
As The Advocate: The Power of Your Voice continues under the thoughtful stewardship of Sister Stacey Sottile, the message remains clear: awareness leads to understanding, understanding restores dignity, and dignity creates space for change.
You can continue the conversation and support the work of Sister Stacey Sottile by following her on YouTube, where she hosts The Advocate: The Power of Your Voice on NSTV Long Island.