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NEW HYDE PARK, NY – In a landmark medical achievement, Sebastien Beauzile, a 21-year-old New York resident, has become the first person in the state to be cured of sickle cell anemia through an advanced genetic treatment. After enduring decades of chronic pain, Beauzile is now free from the debilitating disease.
“Sickle cell was like a blockade for me, but now it’s just like a wall that I just jumped over,” Beauzile told CBS News, expressing his newfound freedom.
Beauzile received the groundbreaking treatment, known as Lyfgenia, at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, part of Northwell Health. This innovative therapy involves modifying a patient’s own bone marrow stem cells to produce healthy red blood cells, effectively eliminating the root cause of sickle cell anemia.
“When we could use Sebastien’s own stem cells to do this therapy, we were delighted,” said Dr. Banu Aygun, a physician specializing in Pediatric Hematology Oncology at Northwell Health.
Sickle cell anemia, a genetic blood disorder primarily affecting individuals of African, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern descent, has plagued patients for over a century. “Here we are over 100 years later, and this is the first cure you are seeing,” emphasized Dr. Jeffrey Lipton, another physician specializing in Pediatric Hematology Oncology at Northwell Health.
Doctors at Cohen Children’s Medical Center are enthusiastic about the prospect of offering this life-changing therapy to more patients. “We feel blessed to be able to offer, be the first ones to be able to offer this,” added Dr. Jonathan Davi Fish, a pediatric hematologist/oncologist at Northwell Health.
Beauzile’s journey with sickle cell began at just two months old, and his mother, Magda Lamour, expressed immense gratitude for the medical breakthrough. “There are not enough words to show you how grateful I am,” she said.
Now, free from the constraints of his illness, Beauzile is eager to embrace life to the fullest. He looks forward to traveling, exercising, and pursuing his education, with aspirations of working in the medical field. “I can’t wait to get back to my day-to-day life because now I feel unstoppable,” he declared.
In a show of support for continued sickle cell treatment efforts, civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced a $100,000 donation to Northwell Health.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided and should not be taken as medical advice. Individual results may vary, and any medical decisions should be made in consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Further research and clinical trials are ongoing to fully understand the long-term effects and broader applicability of this treatment. 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
