Emmanuel
Age: 34

My name is Emmanuel Boakye. I was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia at the age of 3 months. My parents, young Ghanaian immigrants seeking a better life, had traveled to Canada, a country renowned for its top-notch healthcare system. I've lived in and out of hospitals, repeatedly overcoming my Sickle Cell battles.

On March 4, 2019, around 4 am, I experienced a severe Sickle Cell crisis. Tightness in my chest and stabbing pains took over both my legs, making walking nearly impossible. Hesitant to burden my family, I attempted to rush myself downtown. However, realizing I wouldn't make it in time, I exited the highway and headed to the nearest emergency department. After a night at Mackenzie Health, I was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to difficulty breathing.

After a few hours in the ICU, I continued to decline and was placed on a ventilator as my body was failing. My family was notified that I had to be critically transferred to Toronto General Hospital immediately for further treatment. At Toronto General Hospital, I underwent treatments like dialysis and plasmapheresis for multisystem failure, pulmonary embolism, and a large mass in my cecum. I woke up 3 weeks later from a coma and spent my 29th birthday in the hospital, recovering from the most life-threatening crisis I had ever had.

After all my organs shut down and I had lost about 50 pounds, God had given me another chance at life. I have always told myself that I would start an initiative for Sickle Cell research. But after 2019’s tragic crisis, it was my time to tell my story. The last 5 years of my life have been a rollercoaster, but I also used the time to recondition my body and mind.

Part of that uprising journey has been the Oak Ridges Basketball Court. My parents have always worked hard for my siblings and me, and part of that hard work was buying a house near Lake Wilcox Oak Ridges. The trails, community center, and beautiful parks have been my therapeutic escape. I sometimes go to the basketball court to shoot a few shots and watch the neighborhood boys run friendly scrimmage matches.

Another therapeutic hobby of mine is DJing; this was where the idea of creating Lakeside Hoops Basketball Tournament came to life. The Summer of 2020, we had been finally set free to go outdoors after COVID lockdown regulations. Partnered with my close friend Kwaku Watson, I hosted the first Lakeside Hoops outdoor basketball tournament. A tournament where young adults can come and play outdoor basketball on the ocean blue splash pad while enjoying music, by a beautiful Lakeside view. We used this community gathering as a safe place to not only bring the youth together after being locked up for so many months but a chance to educate our community of Sickle Cell disease and its effects.

Selling shirts that read “Shooting Hoops for Hope,” all sales made and monies raised were donated to Sickle cell research. After 3 successful tournaments, our Non for Profit Rise Above GTA Inc. I am proud to say we have built a foundation for an annual program that will assist in the advocacy of Sickle Cell and Anxiety awareness. This is my way to donate not only back to the Oak Ridges community but to the researchers, doctors, and nurses who have been there countless times for my health and to the other young boys and girls who battle with Sickle Cell Anemia.

Despite the social injustices faced daily, I believe African American diseases are also vital conversation topics. Community events like Lakeside Hoops bring our youth together and shed light on Sickle Cell. Although I arrived at the ICU in 2019 in time to save my life, the crisis left lasting physical impacts, including a mini-stroke, two surgeries, and avascular necrosis, an incurable condition requiring a hip replacement.

As I write today, 3 weeks post-hip replacement and 6 months post-Allogeneic Stem Cell transplant, I am on my way to a better life. Before I sign off, I want to say, "KEEP THE HOPE ALIVE." Through prayers, faith, and determination, God has a plan for each and every one of us! James 5:15 - "And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." ESV

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RISE ABOVE GTA INC. AND OUR INITIATIVE PLEASE VISIT US AT WWW.LAKESIDEHOOPS.CA