Long Island man becomes first in New York to be cured of sickle cell anemia

For the first time in New York state, a patient has been cured of sickle cell anemia using an advanced genetic treatment. Doctors at Cohen Children’s Medical Center say Sebastien Beauzile, a 21-year-old Long Island resident, is now free from the painful disease that has affected him since birth.

Sickle cell anemia is a genetic blood disorder that causes red blood cells to become misshapen, leading to severe pain, organ damage, and other health complications. In the U.S., the disease primarily affects people of African, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern descent.

For Beauzile, the condition was a constant struggle. But thanks to a pioneering treatment called Lyfgenia, his life has completely changed.

“Sickle cell was like a blockade for me, but now it’s just like a wall that I just jumped over,” Beauzile said, expressing his joy and relief.

How the treatment works

Doctors at Cohen Children’s Medical Center used Beauzile’s own bone marrow cells in an innovative IV transfusion therapy, allowing his body to produce healthy red blood cells.

“When we could use Sebastien’s own stem cells to do this therapy, we were delighted,” said Dr. Banu Aygun, one of the specialists leading the treatment.

The success of this treatment marks a major milestone. Dr. Jeffrey Lipton highlighted its historical significance:

“Sickle cell disease was described in modern medicine in 1910, and here we are over 100 years later, and this is the first cure you are seeing.”

A future without limits

With his health restored, Beauzile is looking forward to a new chapter in life. He hopes to travel, exercise, and focus on his education, with aspirations to work in the medical field.

“Amazing, and I can’t wait to get back to my day-to-day life because now I feel unstoppable,” he said.

His mother, Magda Lamour, who has been by his side since he was diagnosed as an infant, expressed deep gratitude.

“Sebastien has been coming to this hospital since he was 2 months old. There are not enough words to show you how grateful I am,” she said.

Expanding access to treatment

Medical experts hope this breakthrough will lead to wider access to the life-altering therapy, particularly for communities most affected by sickle cell disease.

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump has also stepped in to support the cause, announcing a $100,000 donation to Northwell Health to help expand treatment options for sickle cell patients.

With this groundbreaking cure, doctors and researchers are optimistic about the future of sickle cell treatment. As Dr. Charles Schleien put it:

“The cliché ‘the future is here’ is actually true in this case.”

For patients like Beauzile, that future means a life free from pain—and full of possibilities.