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When you first meet my 5-year-old daughter Gia, you might notice how smart she is. She loves drawing, reading, and collecting toys. She enjoys watching Paw Patrol and My Little Pony and spending time with her big sister. But after spending some time with her you might also notice that she pays much more attention to drinking enough water and eating healthy foods than the average child. She is extremely aware of when her body needs to rest and has learned at a young age how to advocate for herself in hospitals and doctors’ offices. My daughter is a sickle cell warrior and one of the strongest people I know.