Alexandria Teen: First Pediatric Sickle Cell Cure in Louisiana

Phillip Mullin walked out of Manning Family Children's Hospital on Friday morning after becoming the first child in Louisiana to be functionally cured of sickle cell disease. The 15-year-old from Alexandria also became the state's first recipient of Lyfgenia, a stem cell treatment that rewrites the genetic code of red blood cells.

For 15 years, Mullin’s life was defined by hospitalization. He spent more than 100 visits in medical facilities managing a condition the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes as causing abnormal red blood cells, which trigger pain, infection, and stroke. His mother, Shataka Figgins, said the ceremony marking his discharge was a moment to release the weight of those years. "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 added that she now sees the young man who made it through, rather than just the patient who endured sleepless nights.

Mullin addressed the audience at the Friday ceremony, noting that "sacrifices are necessary." He described the process of enduring pain to find a strength that allows one to overcome obstacles. He also dedicated the milestone to his sister, Paige, whom he called his superhero. Paige, who said she never imagined her brother would get this chance, described the day as feeling "great." Archie Manning, a New Orleans Saints legend and namesake of the hospital, called the outcome a "miracle" and praised Mullin as a wonderful young man with a remarkable mind.

The timeline of Mullin’s recovery began with the administration of Lyfgenia, which serves as a one-time treatment for the disease. Following the procedure, the hospital team monitored his progress until Friday’s formal discharge. The event marked a shift from chronic management to a functional cure, a distinction that separates this case from previous adult treatments in the region.

Mullin plans to return to school and eventually study medicine. He aims to become a hematologist/oncologist to treat blood disorders and cancer. "I want to be a doctor that can relate to somebody. relate to a sickle cell patient and actually know what they're going through," he said. His immediate goal is simpler: sleeping in his own bed and building Legos with his baby sister.