The Sickling

“After a lifetime of pain, a man with sickle cell disease risks everything for a possible cure.”

After surviving a lifetime of debilitating pain caused by sickle cell disease, Gabriel Badejo takes the greatest risk of his life by undergoing an experimental stem cell transplant in hopes of a cure. The Sickling follows Gabriel’s emotional and physical journey as he confronts systemic racism in healthcare, painful memories of medical neglect, and the global realities of living with an often invisible disease. From Toronto to Nigeria, the film explores the intersections of illness, identity, family, and survival while uncovering the historical inequities that continue to shape sickle cell care worldwide. At its heart, The Sickling is a deeply personal story about healing, resilience, and the fight to reclaim a future once thought impossible.

Directed by Gabriel Badejo, Charles Officer, Jake Yanowski