Sickle Cell Patient Knows “Any Day Without Pain is a GOOD Day!”

Shakir is an activist for Sickle Cell Disease awareness and research. Shakir currently resides in Clifton Park, NY, but he grew up in the Schodack area of Upstate New York attended East Greenbush Public Schools. He is now a husband and father of a beautiful two year old daughter.

Although Shakir does have Sickle Cell Disease, he lives by the motto “Any Day Without Pain is a Good Day!”, keeping that always in the back of his mind he likes to enjoy every day and strive to maximize his potential of each day. He’s NEVER been the type to let his illness hold him back. Shakir is a graduate, with a Bachelors degree
in Computer Science, of the University at Albany, and is currently a Information Technology Specialist II for the New York State Department of Health. He also has taken on a Management position managing the career of his personal friend, mentor, and published author Dominique Friend whose autobiography entitled SICKLE, A Story of Pain, Purpose and Perseverance was recently published as a Second Edition in the fall of 2014.

Through use of the internet and quite often the social medias, Shakir has become an advocate/activist  for Sickle Cell research, education, awareness, and prevention. He serves as the Sickle International Legislative Coordinator for the Sickle International Family Coalition.