Jennifer Natasia speaks with Audrey Smith about living with sickle cell anemia, the pain, fear, and medical complications that have shaped her life, and the faith that keeps her moving forward. Audrey shares how she reframes her diagnosis as a superpower, why she refuses a victim identity, and how she uses her story to encourage others. In this episode, we hear Audrey explain what sickle cell is, what crisis feels like, how it has affected her organs, vision, and mobility, and why self-advocacy matters in healthcare. The conversation also centers on spiritual resilience, healing, and the mindset shift that helped her move from asking “why me?” to trusting God with every step.

Key topics

• Jennifer introduces Audrey Smith and frames her story as one of resilience, faith, and endurance.
• Audrey describes sickle cell anemia as her “superpower” and says she chooses a victor mindset over a victim mindset.
• She shares that she has died more than eight times and has spent significant time in the hospital, sometimes for weeks at a time.
• Audrey explains that at 14 she had her spleen removed and gallbladder removed after severe complications, including gallstones and a cyst.
• She gives a plain-language explanation of sickle cell disease as a blood disorder that causes red blood cells to become sticky and block blood flow.
• Audrey details how sickle cell crises feel physically, comparing the pain to a steamroller moving slowly over the body.
• She explains that triggers can include weather changes, cold air after swimming or showering, rain, and dehydration.
• Audrey emphasizes that every sickle cell patient is different and says doctors should not treat all patients the same way.
• She recounts a frightening hospital moment when her heart stopped for 15 seconds while she was praying, which she experienced as if she had simply taken a nap.
• She talks about major procedures and mobility challenges, including a right hip replacement, hip revisions, and a knee replacement.
• Audrey shares that she once went blind in one eye for several years because of a large cataract and other eye issues, but has regained partial sight through surgery.
• She discusses how faith, scripture, and the belief that her suffering is temporary help her keep going.
• Audrey says she is working on two books, including How the Cure for Sickle Cell Anemia Found Me and How to Find Your Door to the Kingdom.
• She describes “wealth” as faith, family joy, travel, purpose, and hearing a child laugh or her father say “I love you.”
• Audrey closes by telling her younger self: “You are not your circumstance.”

Connect with Audrey Smith

• Connect with Audrey Smith: