Sickle cell or SCD affects approximately 100,000 people living in the U.S., and more than 90% of patients are Black. Louisiana has one of the highest per-capita rates of SCD in the U.S., with roughly 3,000 cases statewide. 

The Casgevy and Lyfgenia gene therapy treatments, approved by the FDA in 2023, provide a new course of treatment for patients — and the prospect of a functional cure.

Related post: How Gene Therapy Could End Sickle Cell Disease

Daniel Cressy’s Story 

Cressy was diagnosed with SCD as an infant, when he would have crying spells that would not stop. Growing up, he was hospitalized between 6 and 12 times each year for complications from the disease. This resulted in missing school and being unable to participate in extracurricular activities such as sports teams. 

When the FDA approved gene therapy for the treatment of SCD, Cressy was optimistic about the possibility of a cure. The process from applying for the treatment until finally being cured took around 2 years. Gene therapy is incredibly expensive, and Cressy, who is a truck driver, said that obtaining insurance approval for the treatment took months. 

The team at Manning Family Children’s Hospital worked tirelessly before approval was granted. Then, in 2025, when the paperwork was in order, the medical team collected cells from Cressy’s body, which were then flown to Scotland for genetic modification. 

Cressy underwent chemotherapy at the hospital’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders to eliminate the sickle cells from his body. Subsequently, the genetically modified cells were infused back into his blood. After a month of inpatient recovery, Cressy was declared the first person in Louisiana to be cured of SCD. 

“I am great internally,” Cressy says. “I am physically fit as well. My hemoglobin is over 16. But externally, I still am recovering. Like, I am still bald,” Cressy said. “This therapy is worth it because your second life, Life 2, will be amazing.” 

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Working to Achieve a Lifelong Dream

Daniel Cressy at Family Children’s Hospital in New Orleans, celebrating being cured of SCD.

Cressy’s lifelong dream of becoming a commercial airline pilot motivated him to seek out the gene editing treatment. A couple of years ago, Cressy learned that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would not allow him to become a pilot due to his SCD diagnosis. Nevertheless, Cressy was not about to give up on his dream. He appealed to the FAA to see if they would reconsider, and they offered him a reply. 

“If I could cure my Sickle Cell Disease either through a bone marrow transplant or through gene therapy, then I could become a pilot. Gene editing had just been approved for clinical trials, so I was following the studies closely,” Cressy shared. He then sought out Manning Family Children’s, which is one of the few hospitals to offer both the Casgevy and Lyfgenia gene therapy treatments. 

Lucio Fragoso, President and CEO of Manning Family Children’s, said Cressy’s story provides hope for their whole team. “Curative gene therapy is restoring futures, and Daniel has paved the way for what is possible together with his care team at Manning Family Children’s. This is a proud and transformational moment for all of us.”

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The Future of Treatment 

With gene therapy treatments costing between two and three million dollars, many patients rely on medical aid programs to cover the costs. Yet Medicaid has historically struggled to connect patients with high-cost medical therapies. Only 33 states and two territories in the U.S. have programs offering SCD gene therapy treatments. Cressy was able to access the treatment under Louisiana’s Medicaid program. 

“I feel like God chose me to be the first one in the state because my story, once I do finally become a commercial pilot, is going to be inspirational for a lot of people,” Cressy said. “Overcoming what seemed impossible became my greatest blessing.”

Cressy now joins roughly 100 people across the country to receive the gene editing treatments. Together, they represent a generation that is fighting back against SCD. 

Main Image: Daniel Cressy

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