Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Adult Sickle Cell Disease Program >
  • Patient Stories >
  • Darryl Watkins
Adult Sickle Cell Disease Program
About Us
Research and Clinical Trials
Conditions We Treat
Contact Us
Our Experts
Patient Stories
Support Services
Adult Sickle Cell Disease Program
About Us
Research and Clinical Trials
Conditions We Treat
Contact Us
Our Experts
Patient Stories
Support Services

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Darryl Watkins: Sickle Cell Disease

Darryl Watkins

Darryl Watkins has the HbSS variant of sickle cell disease.

An inspiring, uplifting individual, he is married with three children, all of whom carry the sickle cell trait.

Watkins says that he began to understand the profound impact sickle cell disease would have on his life at the tender age of 6 or 7. He wanted to participate in peewee sports and his parents wouldn’t allow it, because becoming overheated or dehydrated could cause serious health problems for him.

“With each passing year, the discussions I had with my parents about participating in sports became increasingly intense,” says Watkins.

Sickle Cell Disease's Legacy of Pain and Loss

Watkins lost his sister to sickle cell disease when she was just 17 years old. At the time, he was still only a child himself.

Dealing with the pain of this disease and watching a loved one suffer and die from it has proven especially challenging for Watkins.

“My sister suffered a lot more than I did because I didn’t really start having [pain] crises until I was about 12 years old. It was hard watching her suffer. I just wanted to take the pain for her.

“Losing her hurt a lot, but I think it also helped ignite my passion for building awareness about this disease and making a difference to my community despite my illness.”

Watkins’ natural optimism carries a tone of hope for others suffering from sickle cell disease and dealing with the associated health issues and the negative stigma of having the inherited blood disorder.

Sickle Cell Disease and Employment

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of sickle cell disease for adults involves holding down full-time employment.

Those with sickle cell often miss work — sometimes for days or weeks — due to complications of the disease. When employers don’t understand the disease, and the impact it has on a person's everyday life, they may jump to conclusions about their employee that are simply incorrect and unfair.

Darryl Watkins talks about his experience.

“When I landed my first job out of college, I suffered a very severe pain crisis and became hospitalized. Once I was able, I phoned my manager to touch base with her and she fired me while I was lying in the hospital bed.”

Upon reading this account, many people might be shocked. But for sickle cell patients, this happens far more often than you might think.

Watkins explains,

“I had that experience one other time. I had just gotten home from the hospital after having another excruciating pain crisis. I called my manager to let him know that I felt better and would return to work soon. He fired me on the spot. Luckily, my manager’s supervisor called me right back and offered me my job back.”

These stories may seem hard to imagine, but this is real life in the professional world for many people with sickle cell disease.

It’s not all bad, though.

Watkins talks about his best employment experience (his current one) and how it transformed his professional life.

“One of the most awesome work experiences I’ve had occurred when the Pennsylvania Sickle Cell Society came and put on a luncheon for some people in my department. They educated my co-workers about sickle cell disease, its complications, and what people with SCD deal with on a daily basis.

“The entire team changed the way they approached me. It made my working environment incredibly motivating and truly helped me feel a part of the team rather than an outsider.”

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login