Our Mission
To raise the public’s awareness of sickle cell anemia. Our foundation will support sickle cell awareness, education, provide patient support services to those affected by the disease as well as any research conducted in the field to find a universal cure for sickle cell anemia.
Our Vision
A future without sickle cell disease. By providing hope for a better tomorrow through education and awareness hopefully we can eradicate the disease for future generations.
Meet Our Founder
Alicia Wyatt founded The Sickle Cell Foundation of Middle Tennessee in 2012 after the disease almost took her life the previous year. Alicia had her first major pain crisis in 1992 at the age of 8 which left her hospitalized and homebound for several months. Being raised in a small rural town in central Illinois, Alicia’s blood condition left the doctor’s puzzled and confused. However, they continued to reassure her parents that her condition was not serious or life threatening. Some years later, Alicia moved with her family to Tennessee where she suffered another major pain crisis and subsequent hospital stay. After many frustrating years of chronic pain, misdiagnosis and medical uncertainty, Alicia at the age of 15, finally received a diagnosis of Sickle Cell Beta Thalassemia. It is because of her trials and tribulations with the disease that inspired Alicia to found The Sickle Cell Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Her goal for the foundation is to increase the public’s awareness of sickle cell anemia and advocate for those affected by the disease. Alicia currently lives in Spring Hill, TN with her husband Steven and their two children, Zion and Shiloh.
Board of Directors
Alicia Wyatt
Freddie Haddox
Jessica Serfass
Marcus Smith