On Jun. 22, 2026, Louisiana’s first Sickle Cell Disease gene therapy patient is now set to pursue his dream of becoming a commercial pilot after receiving historic, curative gene therapy at Manning Family Children’s. 23-year-old Daniel Cressy, a native of Metairie, Louisiana, rang the bell on Monday, June 22, after a more than two-year journey that led him to this life-changing moment.

Sickle Cell Disease is the most common genetic blood disorder in the world, and Louisiana has more cases of Sickle Cell Disease per capita than any other in the U.S. A debilitating disease that predominantly affects African Americans, Sickle Cell Disease is responsible for shortening the lives of so many, while also causing chronic pain and frequent hospitalizations. Now, with recent significant advancements that allow the altering of genetically modified stem cells, many more children and young adults can be treated (and functionally cured), before the disease begins to destroy their organs.

Daniel was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease as an infant. He and his family did everything right. He received the best treatments available, worked hard to stay healthy and build a future for himself. But as Daniel grew older, he began experiencing frequent episodes of severe pain. The pain sent him to emergency rooms and hospital beds when he should have been in classrooms and spending time with friends. Yet Daniel never let the disease define him.

For Daniel, his gene editing procedure could not come soon enough. In late 2025, Daniel’s cells were collected from his body, and sent to Scotland where they were genetically modified. The cells were sent back to Manning Family Children’s in March 2026. Daniel was admitted to the hospital’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders where he received chemotherapy treatment to wipe out his sickled cells, and on March 18, his genetically modified cells were infused into his body.

Following about a month of recovering and careful monitoring as an inpatient at Manning Family Children’s, Daniel was discharged in mid-April to continue his recovery as an outpatient with careful monitoring and regular follow-up appointments. Now, three months after his infusion, Daniel’s hemoglobin levels are the highest they have been in his entire life, and he is working toward achieving his first class medical, which will clear him to pursue his dream of flying.