15-Year-Old Becomes First Louisiana Child Cured of Sickle Cell Disease

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that sickle cell disease creates abnormal red blood cells, leading to pain, infection, and stroke. For 15-year-old Phillip Mullin of Alexandria, that diagnosis meant a lifetime of medical interventions that now appear to be behind him.

Mullin was discharged from Manning Family Children's Hospital in New Orleans on Friday. He is the first child in Louisiana to receive a functional cure for the condition. He is also the first person in the state to receive Lyfgenia, a stem cell treatment administered by the hospital.

The therapy marked the end of a decade-long cycle of medical care. Mullin had spent more than 100 nights in the hospital over the course of his life. His mother, Shataka Figgins, attended a discharge ceremony held Friday morning. She described the relief of leaving the facility. "I think I'll be unpacking every fear, every negative emotion that I had, every time I thought my baby wasn't going to be here with me," Figgins said.

Mullin addressed the audience during the event. He acknowledged the difficulty of the treatment process. "Sacrifices are necessary," he said. "You can't gain anything without first giving something in return, although if you can endure that pain and walk away from it, you find that you now have a heart strong enough to overcome any obstacle."

His sister, Paige, spoke at the ceremony. She described the moment as emotional and said she had not anticipated receiving the opportunity for treatment. "It just feels great," she said. Archie Manning, a former New Orleans Saints player and namesake of the hospital, attended the event. He called Mullin a "wonderful young man" and described the outcome as "a miracle."

Mullin plans to return to school. He intends to pursue a degree in medicine, with a specific focus on becoming a hematologist/oncologist. He wants to treat patients with blood disorders and cancer while understanding their specific experiences. "I want to be a doctor that can relate to somebody. relate to a sickle cell patient and actually know what they're going through," he said.

Upon arriving home, Mullin said he plans to sleep in his own bed. He also intends to build Lego sets with his younger sister.