What in the World - How a $2m treatment cured my sickle cell disease

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Sickle cell is a genetic blood condition that can cause severe pain, extreme tiredness and serious health complications. It mainly affects people of African and Caribbean heritage, and for many, it's something they've had to live with their whole lives. But that could be changing.

We meet Daniel Cressy, a young man from Louisiana whose dream is to become a pilot. After years of living with sickle cell, he received a ground-breaking treatment that has effectively cured him. He shares what life was like before and what it's like now to be sickle cell free.

We'll also hear from Dr Steven Okoli, who breaks down how these new treatments work and what needs to happen to make them available to more people across the world. Could we be entering a future where sickle cell is no longer a lifelong condition?

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Emma-Louise Amanshia
Producers: William Lee Adams and Stefania Okereke
Video Producer: Baldeep Chahal
Editor: Verity Wilde

Published on Tuesday, 14th July 2026.

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