Phillip Mullin Becomes First Louisiana Child Functionally Cured of Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease has long been a leading cause of pediatric hospitalizations in the United States, driven by the physical toll of abnormal red blood cells.

Phillip Mullin, 15, of Alexandria, has become the first child in Louisiana to be functionally cured of the condition through stem cell gene therapy.

Mullin is also the first resident in the state to receive Lyfgenia, the specific treatment that facilitated the outcome. His medical history includes more than 100 hospital stays prior to the procedure.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that sickle cell disease causes abnormal red blood cells, which can lead to pain, infection, and stroke.

A ceremony marked the completion of his treatment on Friday morning at Manning Family Children's Hospital.

His mother, Shataka Figgins, described the moment as a release from long-held fear. "I think I'll be unpacking every fear, every negative emotion that I had, every time I thought my baby wasn't going to be here with me," Figgins said. She noted that she will remember the sleepless nights but will also focus on "the young man who made it through."

Mullin addressed the audience at the event, stating that sacrifices are necessary to gain new strength. "You can't gain anything without first giving something in return, although if you can endure that pain and walk away from it, you find that you now have a heart strong enough to overcome any obstacle," he said.

His sister, Paige, who he called his superhero, expressed relief that he finally had this opportunity. "It just feels great," she said.

Archie Manning, a New Orleans Saints legend and hospital namesake, attended the ceremony. He described Mullin as a "wonderful young man" with a remarkable mind and called the outcome "a miracle."

Mullin plans to return to school and eventually become a hematologist/oncologist. He said he wants to be a doctor who can relate to sickle cell patients and understand their experiences.

For now, his immediate plans involve returning home to sleep in his own bed and building Legos with his baby sister.