Louisiana teen leaves hospital after first pediatric gene therapy for sickle cell

For fifteen years, the hospital was a second home for Phillip Mullin. The Alexandria teen has been admitted more than 100 times to treat sickle cell disease, a condition that causes abnormal red blood cells leading to pain, infection, and stroke. This week, that cycle stopped. Mullin became the first child in Louisiana to undergo a functional cure for the disease using stem cell gene therapy.

The procedure, known as Lyfgenia, marks a new standard of care for pediatric patients in the state. Mullin is also the first person of any age in Louisiana to receive this specific treatment. The therapy was administered at Manning Family Children's Hospital in New Orleans, where a ceremony was held Friday morning to mark his discharge.

Shataka Figgins, Mullin’s mother, described the emotional weight of the hospitalization years. She said she plans to unpack more than just his belongings. "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," she said. Figgins acknowledged the sleepless nights and the worry over her son’s physical limits, but she now sees a young man who survived the ordeal.

Mullin addressed the audience at the ceremony, noting the cost of the journey. "Sacrifices are necessary," he said. "You can't gain anything without first giving something in return, although if you can endure that pain and walk away from it, you find that you now have a heart strong enough to overcome any obstacle." He specifically thanked his sister, Paige, whom he called his superhero. "It doesn't matter how far I walk, Paige is always there, always waiting," he said.

Archie Manning, a New Orleans Saints legend and one of the hospital’s namesakes, attended the event. He described Mullin as a "wonderful young man" with a remarkable mind. Manning called the outcome "a miracle" and stated he had never seen anything quite like Mullin’s description of his journey with the disease.

Looking ahead, Mullin plans to return to school and pursue a career as a hematologist/oncologist. He wants to treat blood disorders and cancer, citing a desire to relate to patients who share his medical history. "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 plans are quieter. Mullin intends to sleep in his own bed and build Legos with his baby sister.