Back to profile

Laura Klairmont, CNN

Stories by Laura

Tease photo

She was told she wouldn’t live past her 8th birthday. Now, her life’s mission is to fight for patients with this deadly disease

Three of the four siblings in Lea Kilenga’s family were born with sickle cell, including Lea. Her eldest sister passed away from the disease when she was just 4 years old. Kilenga herself was told that she would not live beyond her 8th birthday.