Brittany Hightower was a 22-year-old woman from Texas who had sickle cell anemia, a genetic blood disorder that causes severe pain and organ damage. She was also a founder of a non-profit organization called Slay the Sickle Cycle, which aimed to raise awareness and support for people with the disease. She worked as a nurse at the American Red Cross of Greater North Texas. On December 24, 2022, she was admitted to the John Peter Smith Hospital in Houston after having severe stomach issues. A week later, on January 1, 2023, she passed away from her illness. Her family members accused the hospital and the police of racially-charged negligence and mistreatment, saying that she could have been saved with timely medical intervention. They are seeking justice for her death.
How Brittany Hightower Was Denied Treatment by the Hospital
When Brittany Hightower arrived at the emergency room, she was put in an isolation ward in compliance with the hospital’s COVID-19 protocol. But instead of receiving medical care, she was told to leave the hospital premises for “faking” her disease and was discharged for no reason. She pleaded with the staff but was refused treatment and the hospital police were called to remove her.
In a video shared on TikTok by Brittany’s family members, two police officers could be heard telling her that the staff “did not want her there” and to leave immediately. One officer said: “They don’t want to treat you right now, for whatever reason. That’s nothing I have to do with.” They later threatened to charge her with criminal trespassing and arrest her if she did not voluntarily leave the emergency room and suggested that she contact the higher authorities.
An evidently sick and distraught Brittany begged the police to let her stay, saying: “I don’t care why you are here; this is not good treatment. So, if they [the hospital] want me to leave, I want to file a police report of mistreatment because this is wrong… I am sick, I don’t need to leave. If I leave, I could possibly die. They are ignoring my complaints completely.”
According to OkayBliss, Brittany had a previous altercation with a registered nurse (RN) who later refused to treat her. Apparently, the nurse had taken a disliking to her since then and did not believe that she was truly sick. Brittany was subjected to verbal abuse by the staff and the police at the hospital despite her deteriorating health condition. Her family believes that the two parties deliberately denied helping her for racial and prejudicial causes.
The Impact of Brittany Hightower’s Death on Her Family and Community
Following her untimely death, Brittany’s family is looking for accountability from the hospital for the events that transpired. It is likely that they would press legal charges against them. Brittany’s death also came as a shock to her community, especially to those who were inspired by her advocacy for sickle cell anemia. She had founded Slay the Sickle Cycle in 2020, after losing her father to the same disease. She wanted to create a platform for people with sickle cell anemia to share their stories, educate others, and raise funds for research and treatment. She also organized events and campaigns to spread awareness and support for the cause.
Brittany’s death also highlighted the issue of medical racism and discrimination that many people of color face in the healthcare system. According to Empower Nevadans Now, people with sickle cell anemia, who are predominantly African American, often encounter bias, stigma, and inadequate care from medical professionals. They are sometimes accused of drug-seeking, exaggerating their pain, or faking their symptoms. They are also less likely to receive proper diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care than other patients. These factors contribute to the lower life expectancy and higher mortality rate of people with sickle cell anemia.
How to Support Brittany Hightower’s Cause and Honor Her Legacy
Brittany Hightower’s story has sparked outrage and grief among many people who have expressed their condolences and solidarity with her family and friends. Many have also called for justice and accountability from the hospital and the police involved in her case. Some of the ways that people can support Brittany’s cause and honor her legacy are:
- Signing and sharing the petition on Change.org that demands an investigation and prosecution of the hospital and the police for their negligence and mistreatment of Brittany.
- Donating to the GoFundMe page that was set up by Brittany’s family to cover the funeral and legal expenses, as well as to continue her work with Slay the Sickle Cycle.
- Following and supporting Slay the Sickle Cycle on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and participating in their events and campaigns to raise awareness and funds for sickle cell anemia.
- Educating oneself and others about sickle cell anemia, its symptoms, complications, and treatments, and advocating for better care and resources for people with the disease.
- Standing up against medical racism and discrimination, and calling out any instances of bias, stigma, or mistreatment that one witnesses or experiences in the healthcare system.
Brittany Hightower was a young woman who had a passion for helping others and making a difference in the world. She was a nurse, an advocate, a leader, and a friend to many. She deserved to live a long and healthy life, and to receive the best medical care possible. Her death was a tragedy that could have been prevented, and a reminder of the systemic injustices that plague our society. Her story should not be forgotten, and her legacy should not be tarnished. She should be remembered as a hero who fought for her life and her cause, and who inspired others to do the same.