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, an art exhibit that captures the untold stories behind the scars of those living with sickle cell disease. The exhibit launches with a special video montage on September 17, 2025, during the 17th Annual Sickle Cell Disease Educational Summit and opens 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."
Scar Stories represents a significant movement in healthcare awareness and patient advocacy by transforming scars into powerful visual testimonies that redefine them as marks of endurance, survival, and beauty. This project is particularly important because it addresses the often invisible suffering of sickle cell patients, whose internal scars and chronic pain frequently go unrecognized by the broader public and medical community.
The exhibit is curated under the leadership of Carolyn Rowley, PhD, Executive Director of Cayenne Wellness Center, Heather Avant, Photographer, and Dr. Patrise Holden, Project Manager. 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. Registration is available at https://bit.ly/cwcscarstoriesexhibit.
As the first art project of its kind to explore and reveal the visible and hidden scars of sickle cell warriors across the nation, Scar Stories offers the medical community, policymakers, and the public a powerful glimpse into the strength and resilience of the sickle cell community. Photographer Heather Avant, who is also a sickle cell warrior, stated, "As the photographer and warrior myself, Scar Stories is a true visualization of the aftermath of sickle cell on the human body. As warriors, we bear the scars of battle."
This exhibition matters because it challenges societal perceptions of disability and chronic illness while providing a platform for patients to share their authentic experiences. By making the invisible visible, Scar Stories has the potential to influence healthcare policies, improve patient-provider relationships, and foster greater empathy and understanding for the approximately 100,000 Americans living with sickle cell disease.
