In June, Kids Rock Cancer kicked off its 2019 summer camp series with the first group songwriting experience at Camp Crescent—St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s camp for 8- to 14-year-old kids living with sickle cell disease. This year, the camp took place at YMCA Trout Lodge in Petosi, Missouri. Throughout the process, a common theme emerged: educating others about what it’s like to live with the challenges of sickle cell. Campers were split into two groups, writing a powerful anthem called “Sickle Cell is What We Tell” and singing of strength and perseverance.
S – I – C – K – L – E C – E – L – L
Sickle cell is how it’s spelled
S – I – C – K – L – E C – E – L – L
Sickle cell is what we tell
I got changes in my temp
From hot to cold
I get a transfusion
To new from old
Our blood cells may be different
Don’t change a thing
But here at Camp Crescent
We are all the same
S – I – C – K – L – E C – E – L – L
Sickle cell is how it’s spelled
S – I – C – K – L – E C – E – L – L
Sickle cell is what we tell
We’ve got pain unexpected
That comes and goes
It hurts so bad
From my head to toes
Let me tell ya something
That you might not know
We are sickle cell fighters
And that’s how it goes
S – I – C – K – L – E C – E – L – L
Sickle cell is how it’s spelled
S – I – C – K – L – E C – E – L – L
Sickle cell is what we tell
