“Welcome to the World, Warrior" is a heartfelt, empowering children's book about **Reeta Beeta**, a joyful 7-year-old African American girl with sickle cell anemia (SCA)/ sickle beta thalassemia zero who also chooses to be "bloodless". While Reeta loves dancing, drawing, and playing with her two older brothers and baby brother, she often feels alone when painful "crises" strike—making her the only one in her family who gets rushed to the hospital. In this series, Reeta learns to speak up and advocate for her health, even when it goes against the popular treatment, proving that one size does not fit all.
Through vibrant illustrations and gentle storytelling, the book:
- Celebrates Reeta’s resilience (calling her a **"Warrior"**).
- Explains SCA in kid-friendly terms (e.g., "Sometimes her red blood cells get stuck like puzzle pieces").
- Shows her family’s love and support (e.g., her brothers make her laugh during IV treatments).
- Introduces Reeta's service dog Joelle and emotional support cat Jesmyna as her essential sidekicks.

We watch Reeta Beeta—a brave little sickle cell warrior give voice to the silent battles of sickle cell and grief. Reeta had several moments where doctors gave up hope but she recovered past their expiration dates. Then she suddenly loses her father in death. She's learning to navigate her own mortality with her personal loss. She’s fighting for her life while mourning a piece of it that's gone, and in doing so, she becomes a symbol of what it means to grieve and grow. She is teaching kids that strength isn’t just about fighting—it’s also about feeling. And that healing doesn’t mean pretending everything’s okay, but trusting that you can still find light even when it hurts.

Welcome to the World Warrior, Borrow My Strength features Reeta Beeta and friends learning to support each other through a variety of challenges. Sissy Pooh learns how to be a warrior friend. Zaria learns how to ask more questions about the standard treatment for sickle cell. Mikey and Autumn learn healing through art. Leah learns to ask for help and to talk about her stiff person syndrome without shame. Reeta and Roberta learn how to expose pests. Ronnie and Reeta find healing in the light of love that remains after a loss.

At Your Service will explore how service animals could help our warriors