Voices of sickle cell season 1 episode 6 with Bux

Title: From Ink to Insight — Bux in Brooklyn Shares the Raw Reality of Living with Sickle Cell

In Voices of Sickle Cell Episode 6, presented by Love and Fashion and hosted by Tray Lover, listeners are introduced to Bux—a 42-year-old tattoo artist and piercer from Brooklyn, originally born in Puerto Rico. His voice joins a growing chorus of sickle cell warriors courageously telling their truths, offering a powerful glimpse into what it means to live, survive, and thrive with sickle cell SS.

Diagnosed at the age of three after frequent illness as a child in Puerto Rico, Bux’s journey with sickle cell disease has been marked by both resilience and reflection. Though he once went ten years without a hospital stay, his 42nd birthday brought him face-to-face with a painful crisis and acute chest syndrome. His story is a familiar one to many warriors—enduring school absences, social stigma, and a lifetime of navigating a healthcare system that often lacks empathy.

Bux sheds light on the harsh reality of being mislabeled as a “drug seeker” when seeking pain relief, highlighting the harmful stereotypes that haunt many sickle cell patients. “Why would anyone want to be high and enjoy it when they’re going through a sickle cell crisis?” he asks candidly. During one hospital stay, he recalls waiting in agony while a nurse casually spoke about her vacation to Turks and Caicos—an image that sharply contrasts with the urgent needs of patients like him.

Still, Bux credits key figures in his life with helping him find peace and strength. From his high school partner who asked if she could “catch” sickle cell, to his ex-wife who told him never to be ashamed of his illness, to his current fiancée who advocates fiercely for him in the hospital—each woman has played a role in reminding him that he’s more than his diagnosis.

He also reflects on the life lessons sickle cell taught him. At 15, a doctor told his mother he wouldn’t live to see 18. Today, he’s living proof of what happens when warriors prioritize their health. He’s stopped working seven days a week, eliminated soda, and pays close attention to hydration, nutrition, and vitamin intake. He’s honest about mistakes too—like questioning why he was prescribed Oxbryta during trial phases without proper clarity about the long-term effects.

Now, Bux hopes his story inspires young sickle cell warriors to keep going: “Don’t let this disease stop you from achieving your dreams. Live life.”

His episode reminds us that warriors aren’t looking for pity. They’re demanding empathy, accountability, and systems of care that see them fully. From New York to Puerto Rico to beyond, Bux’s story is a reminder that strength doesn’t mean silence—and vulnerability is its own kind of victory