Zahara Weeks

Born a Warrior Zahara Weeks

Zahara, a bright and energetic rising 6th grader who loves singing, dancing and anything about science was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia (Sickle Cell SS) at birth. When she grows up she wants to be a doctor. While she is still deciding on the type of doctor she will be she has narrowed it down to some form of pediatric specialty such as hematology/oncology or gastroenterology. Zahara's magnetic personality leaves an impression on everyone she meets. This enthusiasm for life andamazing sense of confidence has led to many awesome opportunities. As a committed advocate to spreading awareness, Zahara has been featured in public service announcements with Georgia May Jagger and James Pickens, Jr. aimed at encouraging individuals to join the bone marrow donor registry and has partnered with Jordin Sparks as well as theNational Heart, Lung and Blood Institutes Cure Sickle Cell Initiative. In August of 2019, she was a panelist at the NHLBI Sickle Cell Research Meeting where she spoke with scientists, researchers and pharmaceutical corporates in effort to expand clinical trial opportunities for individuals with sickle cell. Along with her parents she has organized several toy and pajama drives for children with various chronic diseases and disorders which they call "Marley's Mission to Give." In spite of the many ups and downs that life with sickle cell brings, Zahara is determined to "live her best life" and believes that with her faith in God along with the support of her family and medical team there is nothing that she can't accomplish.