Warrior Stories — Reva’s Journey with Sickle Cell

This is Reva!!

  I was born in the UK, where I was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anaemia at birth. My mother and I, aware of the challenges of managing a chronic illness, returned to our roots. We moved to the tiny Caribbean Island of Montserrat, where most of my family still lives. For a while, things were peaceful—until my first sickle cell crisis at just 8 months old. It was so severe that I had to be urgently airlifted to a neighbouring Island for treatment. That was the first time My parents and I learned that pain is life changing.

I stayed in Montserrat until 2019, when I came to England for what was supposed to be a short holiday. That holiday quickly became permanent after a devastating diagnosis. I had AVN (Avascular Necrosis) in both hips. It’s an incredibly painful condition. The blood supply to the bone is reduced, causing the bone to die. It’s a known complication of sickle cell. In my case, both of my hips were on the verge of collapse.

To try and save them, I underwent hip decompression surgery. This is a procedure where holes are drilled into the bone to relieve pressure and encourage blood flow. In my case, bone cement was added with the goal of delaying a full replacement. Unfortunately, the decompression’s and bone cement spread and made things significantly worse. My hips collapsed not long after, and in 2021 at the age of 21, I had both hips replaced.

During my final surgery, my epidural was removed, but I never regained feeling or movement from the knees down. I had to learn how to walk all over again and regain balance, something I’m still working on today. It’s been a long, painful, and emotional journey—but also one that’s revealed just how much strength I really have.

Why I Started Chronic Junk

“Resilience isn’t about bouncing back—it’s about choosing to rise when staying down would be easier.”“Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.”“They whispered, ‘You can’t withstand the storm.’ I whispered back, ‘I am the storm.'”

These words have carried me through some of the hardest days of my life. Chronic Junk was born from that strength. It’s more than a business—it’s my way of turning pain into purpose. I create custom cases and accessories that represent personal style. They also tell the stories of those living with chronic illnesses, like mine.

This brand is for Fighters and Warriors. The ones who smile through silent battles. The ones who turn pain into art. The ones who never give up—even when they have every reason to. Through every product, I want to raise awareness. I want to celebrate resilience. I want to remind people that being different doesn’t make you weak. It makes you powerful.

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💜 Want to stay connected?

You can find me and my work across different platforms! Follow along on Instagram @Chronic_junk_, join the community on Facebook at Chronic Junk, visit my website at ChronicJunk.com, catch behind-the-scenes and creative fun on TikTok @chronic.junk, and don’t forget to keep up with new posts right here on the blog 👉 chronicjunk.blog. Let’s spread awareness and celebrate resilience together! 🌍✨