A Houston man is on a mission to stay alive and shine the spotlight on a rare blood disorder.

HOUSTON – Of the estimated 180 Texas babies born each year with sickle cell, a rare genetic blood condition, approximately 40% are in Houston, according to Dr. Titilope Fasipe, chair of the Houston Sickle Cell Collaborative. Kennedy Cooper, of Pearland, is one of the estimated 1,500 children in Houston living with sickle cell. Dr. Fasipe is a sickle cell patient herself. “We know bone marrow transplant can cure sickle cell but not everybody has a match. Participants who are impacted personally by sickle cell disease are encouraged to share their stories.