Freedom to create is important as an entrepreneur
Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called women in wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Si’Neka Demery.
Si’Neka Demery has become a fierce Sickle Cell Warrior & rising star within the wellness community since the launch of her Holistic Wellness Brand, Akenis llc, in May 2020. Her mission is to bring awareness and support a healthy lifestyle & diet for those like herself, whom live with a chronic illness. She has worked with various brands, organizations, influencers, & celebrities to continue educating and empowering women all over the world.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
I was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia disease at birth, so I came into the world being different. It’s a genetic disease, so it has to be passed down from a parent carrying the gene. My mother was a RN & believed in a balance diet. So, she definitely played a part in some of the earlier knowledge I had about the disease. Although she was aware of the disease, she still did not have all the proper information and resources, that should have been available for her as a caregiver and myself, as a patient. This is during the late 80’s and early 90’s, so there just was not much information on the disease. I dealt with a lot of complications growing up, some I didn’t even share with my parents because I was confused and scared as a kid. As I got older and puberty hit, that’s when it became a daily reminder that I needed to be vigilant and advocate for my health and life. It was so hard trying to explain why I couldn’t do certain things or why my body would react a certain way to family and friends who did not have the disease. Unless you have the disease or know someone personally who have it, it can be extremely hard to understand or even comprehend the severity of the disease. This is why I started Akenis llc, there are millions of people from all over the world, of various ages, that are battling a disease like Sickle Cell Anemia and I want them to know they are not alone and there is someone who has devoted her life to helping them.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
Oh, I have many interesting stories but the one that I won’t forget is the day I was at the local gym in my home town and there was an older woman who was struggling to dress herself, inside the women’s locker room, after swimming. I walked in to the locker room and she immediately turned red, and embarrassed because she was fully naked and clearly struggling. She looked at me and apologized for being in the way of my locker and I told her to take her time, that I wasn’t in a rush. I smiled at her and turned my back a little to give her some privacy but I could still hear her struggling. She was out of breath and sat down finally. I asked her if she needed help, that I had worked in the medical field for 18 years, and in surgery, and it wouldn’t be any trouble at all to help her. The sigh of relief that came out of this woman, her whole energy shifted. As I was helping her, she told me how she just had surgery to remove a tumor a few months ago, and the recovery process had not been easy for her, due to her age. She then went on to tell me about how her daughter had a cancer scare and now she’s worried there may be some hereditary genetic disorder in their family now. We talked for at least 15 minutes, I shared my story about Sickle Cell & she shared hers. During this time we had just made our community gift packs, that we had out free to women of the community and the homeless. I had a few in my bag and I handed her one as we wrapped up our conversation. The funny thing is I never got her name and she never got mine but the exchange that her and I had that day, lets me know that I am doing what I am supposed to; Helping women.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
One of my biggest mistakes when first starting Akenis llc, was that I over extended myself and over promised myself; which would lead to me sometimes having to cancel an event appearance or deal because I just didn’t have the time or I was experiencing a burn out and my body needed rest and rejuvenation. When you’re so passionate about what you do, the way I am about Akenis, it can be easy to say, “Yes” to everything without actually planning out properly and timely. This lead to many Sickle Cell crisis that I could have avoided by following my own advice and resting.
For instance, I had the opportunity to work with a well-known celebrity in 2023 to help bring awareness for sickle cell but I had missed the emails and phone calls from their camp because I was sick from a Sickle Cell crisis caused by a burn out and so the opportunity passed me by. I learned to take time to allow myself to rest and that it does not mean I am not still passionate about my brand or mission.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
Let’s be real, every 1 in 10 people know about Sickle Cell Anemia. Shocking, isn’t it? Not to those of us within the community. I lost count on how many health care professionals would have the most puzzled look when I would notify them that I have the disease. I even had a potential Primary Care Physician, Google the disease during my evaluation, then proceeded to ask me advice for any future patient’s he may have with the disease. He had no clue what it was or how to treat it and that made me extremely sad and angry. How many people have been misdiagnosed or called a “liar” because their Doctor doesn’t have the proper knowledge or education about their condition? Did you know the average Sickle Cell Patient is projected to become Narcotic dependent by the age of 18? This is because narcotics are deemed as the only effective treatment to combat the extreme pain that onsets during a crisis & its automatically given to any Sickle Cell patient during a crisis. My eldest daughter was pumped with Morphine at the age of 1 when she had a crisis. I made a stand right then and there because seeing my 1 year old drugged up and delusional, broke my heart. Through my own personal struggles, education, and work experience, I have learned, Prevention is the key to obtaining and maintaining a substantial life with the disease. Diet, Exercise, and Mental Health Awareness.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing?
1 . Daily Vitamins & Nutrients — Simply taking a multi vitamin is no longer enough. Incorporating more fruits, vegetables, and herbal teas, actually provide more essential vitamins and nutrients needed for the body to perform.
2 . Hydration — Water is the only way to stay properly hydrated. Limiting consumption of sugary juices, carbonated drinks, and alcohol can help prevent dehydration, which can cause a crisis.
3 . Exercise — Staying active helps with blood circulation, joint pain, and muscle pain for those living with a chronic illness like Sickle Cell Anemia. This also, helps to prevent crisis.
4 . Meditation/Breathing Exercises — Lack of oxygen is one of the main causes of Sickle Cell Crisis. Sometimes we simply forget to properly breathe, especially during physical activities. Learning simple breathing exercises has helped me a lot with this issue. My daughter and I both attend Yoga classes with a Yoga studio I collaborate with. We truly enjoy the peace and tranquility it provides for us both, we both always leave feeling much better.
5 . Journaling — Write every thing you experience down. Sometimes our minds forget pertinent details that could be beneficial in treatments and/or life saving. I find that journaling my symptoms during a crisis along with my mental state, the weather conditions, food & drinks consumed, etc help to sometimes find the cause of a crisis or what actually helped during a crisis.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
I already started a movement, AKENIS MOVEMENT, and we are only getting started! I want to reach more then thousands of women all over the world; I want to reach MILLIONS!
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
1. The first year is a learning experience
2. There’s always room for growth.
3. A failed plan is not the end.
4. Trust your gut
5. Freedom to create is important as an entrepreneur
Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
Mental health is the dearest to me because living with a chronic illness you battle anxiety and depression. You have to overcome, this natural fear that subconsciously stays inside of you. There is no greater fear than fearing for your life and this is something we deal with, everyday. It is important to be mentally strong so that the body remains physically strong. I truly believe if you keep the mind strong, the body will follow.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
Readers can check out our online platform at www.Akenis-llc.myshopify.com, you can see latest news on Akenis llc, and also shop some of our hand made, 100% organic products; and donate to our Akenis Cares fund which helps us provide free hygeine packs to the homeless and women throughout the community. You can also follow us on our socials, Instagram: www.instagram.com/Akenis_llc and on our new tik tok page, www.tiktok.com/akenisllc.
Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com .
