If you're 13-25 and living with thalassaemia or sickle cell, or someone close to you is, this space is for you.
Most resources about thalassaemia and sickle cell are written for parents. This page is for you. The dating, the friend group, the year-13 burnout, the OE plans, the "am I being dramatic?" moments, that's what we want to talk about here.
Missing days for transfusions. Brain fog mid-exam. Group projects when you've been in hospital. We can help you set up accommodations.
Do you tell employers? When? How? Know your rights, and your options.
When do you tell someone? What if you both turn out to be carriers? This stuff is real.
Insurance is hard but not impossible. Vaccinations matter. We've helped lots of people travel safely.
Living with chronic pain or illness takes a toll. It's not weakness to need support.
Friends who don't get it. The desire to seem "normal". The exhausting work of explaining.
Just for 13-25s. Different vibe from the main community. We vet new members carefully, it's a real safe space.
Matched with someone 2-5 years older who's been through what you're navigating now.
Quarterly meet-ups, pizza, games, no agenda. Just being with people who get it.
If things are really hard, we have a dedicated rangatahi support worker, free, confidential.
You're also allowed to be brilliant, ambitious, weird, fun, and complicated. All of it. We see all of it.
