Cayenne Wellness Center and Children's Foundation, in collaboration with the Sickle Cell Community Consortium and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, presents SCAR Stories: A Visual Testimony of Sickle Cell Warriors. This innovative art exhibit captures the untold stories behind the scars of those living with sickle cell disease, launching with a special video montage on September 17, 2025, during the 17th Annual Sickle Cell Disease Educational Summit.
The exhibit will officially open to the public from September 18–20, 2025, at the San Jose Marriott. Through striking photography by Artfully Avant and bold storytelling by Dr. Patrise Holden, Scar Stories brings to light the physical and emotional scars, both visible and unseen, that sickle cell warriors carry. Each portrait honors the dual nature of scars as symbols of trauma and triumph, pain and perseverance.
As one sickle cell warrior explained, "I chose to share my brain scar with the world because it's the one I'm most ashamed of. It also holds the story of what I've survived." This project represents more than an art exhibit; it is a movement of healing and truth-telling that transforms scars into powerful visual testimonies, redefining them as marks of endurance, survival, and beauty.
Heather Avant, the photographer and a sickle cell warrior herself, stated, "Scar Stories is a true visualization of the aftermath of sickle cell on the human body. As warriors, we bear the scars of battle." The exhibit is the first art project of its kind to explore and reveal the visible and hidden scars of sickle cell warriors across the nation, offering the world a powerful glimpse into the strength of the sickle cell community.
The project was made possible through California State Funding awarded to Cayenne Wellness Center and Children's Foundation. Summit attendees receive free entry to the SCAR Stories Exhibit, while general guests are welcome with donations appreciated. Visitors can register through the official registration portal at https://bit.ly/cwcscarstoriesexhibit.
This exhibition matters because it addresses the significant lack of public understanding about sickle cell disease's physical and emotional toll. By making these personal stories visible, the project challenges stigma, promotes empathy, and advocates for better healthcare resources and support systems for the sickle cell community nationwide.
