January 21, 2023 - 19:19 GMT Rebecca Lewis NFL star Tevin Coleman and his wife Akilah have spoken out about the journey they have been on after their five-year-old daughter was diagnosed with sickle cell disease. Tevin and Akilah welcomed twins, Nazaneen and Nezerah, in 2017, and Nazaneen was diagnosed when she was four-months-old.
Speaking to People, the San Francisco 49ers running back - who was diagnosed with sickle cell symptoms when he was in college - revealed that the couple knew it was important to raise awareness. The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells. Symptoms and complications of SCD are different for each person but those with the disease are encouraged to drink plenty of water and try not to get too hot or too cold.POPULAR: Kelly Ripa's son is unrecognizable in new photo shared ahead of long-awaited changeAkilah is raising her twins in Atlanta while Tevin works in San Francisco during the football season.