From the series: Blood, Sweat & Cells: Real Talk About Sickle Cell Disease

When Tatyana decided to stop her medication so she could have a child, she knew there would be risks. But nothing could have prepared her for the relentless pain that followed or the heartbreak of missing her baby's first milestones while fighting for her own life.

In this deeply moving third episode of our special series on half-matched bone marrow transplants, we hear from Tatyana, a 30-year-old sickle cell warrior who refused to give up. From pregnancy complications and endless hospital stays to a life-changing decision made from her hospital bed, Tatyana opens up about her emotional journey toward healing and the day her younger brother became her half-match donor.

This is a story of a mother's love, a family's strength, and a medical breakthrough offering hope to thousands living with sickle cell disease.

For anyone who'd like to learn more about this procedure, you can visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/transplant/programs/bone-marrow