One of my favorite articles this year is “‘True definition of strength’: How this Milwaukee man fights through sickle cell disease” by Chesnie Wardell.

Mariela Fonseca Ruiz is a News 414/ Noticias 414 ambassador at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

I appreciate it because it doesn’t just inform and educate readers about the disease, it uplifts someone who is living with it and actively working to create change in his community. The article focuses on how James Griffin navigates life with sickle cell and offers tangible examples that can inspire others facing the same challenges.

I know there are many articles online about sickle cell disease, but highlighting someone in our own community who is not only living through it but truly thriving makes the information more inspiring and relatable.

This story walks us through Griffin’s journey and allows us to learn about the disease through his real, interpersonal experiences.

It not only educates but also sheds light on how the medical system often mistreats patients with diseases like sickle cell, especially people of color seeking pain medication. The article offers readers encouragement and insight on how to better advocate for themselves in these spaces.

Read the story here.

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Memorable story of 2025: ‘True definition of strength’: How this Milwaukee man fights through sickle cell disease

by Chesnie Wardell, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
December 30, 2025

<h1>Memorable story of 2025: ‘True definition of strength’: How this Milwaukee man fights through sickle cell disease</h1>
<p class="byline">by Chesnie Wardell, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service <br />December 30, 2025</p>

<p>One of my favorite articles this year is <a href="https://milwaukeenns.org/2025/10/09/true-definition-of-strength-how-this-milwaukee-man-fights-through-sickle-cell-disease/">“‘True definition of strength’: How this Milwaukee man fights through sickle cell disease</a>” by Chesnie Wardell.&nbsp;</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/DSCF4177-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-136973" style="aspect-ratio:0.7998271978276298;width:174px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mariela Fonseca Ruiz is a News 414/ Noticias 414 ambassador at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.</figcaption></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group">
<p>I appreciate it because it doesn’t just inform and educate readers about the disease, it uplifts someone who is living with it and actively working to create change in his community. The article focuses on how James Griffin navigates life with sickle cell and offers tangible examples that can inspire others facing the same challenges.</p>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-group">
<p>I know there are many articles online about sickle cell disease, but highlighting someone in our own community who is not only living through it but truly thriving makes the information more inspiring and relatable.&nbsp;</p>
</p></div>
<p>This story walks us through Griffin’s journey and allows us to learn about the disease through his real, interpersonal experiences.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It not only educates but also sheds light on how the medical system often mistreats patients with diseases like sickle cell, especially people of color seeking pain medication. The article offers readers encouragement and insight on how to better advocate for themselves in these spaces.</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-background" style="background-color:#f7f7f7"><strong><a href="https://milwaukeenns.org/2025/10/09/true-definition-of-strength-how-this-milwaukee-man-fights-through-sickle-cell-disease/">Read the story here</a>.</strong></h4>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
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Memorable story of 2025: ‘True definition of strength’: How this Milwaukee man fights through sickle cell disease

Read the story here.

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Read the story here.

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Chesnie WardellReporting Fellow