In many ways, Shamar Harper is a typical 12-year-old boy living in Miramar. He worries about homework, what he’s going to wear to school, and even the video games he plays.
“But I also worry about going to the hospital, taking my medicine, and the pain that shows up even when I didn’t invite it,” Harper told members of a Senate Health Policy Committee this week.
“I live with sickle cell disease. That means some days, my body feels like it’s running a race I never signed up for. Some days, I wake up already tired before the day even begins. And some days, I miss school, birthday parties, and being outside just playing like the other kids. Sometimes I can’t walk.”…