These days, she's more of a crusader who educates everyone who will listen about sickle cell disease.

“The pain with sickle cell disease is real,” Yvonne said. “It's prevalent and it's persistent.”

During presentations, you can hear Yvonne's passion for erasing the stigma of the painful, debilitating disease and replacing it with facts.

“One of the biggest myths is that it's isolated only to the African-American community,” Yvonne said. “Sickle cell disease can strike any ethnicity including Caucasians."

Under her leadership, the annual Sickle Cell Walk has grown every year while raising money and awareness. As Deputy Director of the James R. Clark Memorial Sickle Cell Foundation, this is more than just a job for Yvonne. It's her ministry and she's determined to make sure others understand it, too.

“I know we hear a lot about diabetes, breast cancer, and heart disease, but sickle cell disease is every bit as important and it deserves the attention.”

Every time Yvonne has a chance to talk with young people, it gives her hope about inspiring them to pursue a life of public service and maybe even more.

“Maybe we can ignite a little fire that some of them will pursue a medical field,” Yvonne said. “We need doctors. We need nurses. Especially, we need physicians to help treat individuals with sickle cell disease and, hopefully one day, researchers to find a cure."

Until that cure comes, Yvonne will champion for the cause.

“I am so thankful for the goodness of God and ordering my paths,” Yvonne said. “As I said, I wouldn't even be in health education had I not had breast cancer and, to me, that's a testament that sometimes, something terrible can turn into something really, really wonderful.”