Hello my name is Terrill Darling I'm a sickle cell patient.I'm 42 years old I have full custody of my son who also lives with sickle cell we are both prescribed opiates. I myself have been taking opiates for over 30 years I cannot live comfortably without opiates because it enables me to function. I was recently told by my provider that he wouldn't be comfortable prescribing my pain medication any longer because of the opiate crisis he offered me methadone as an alternative this will not work for me as I've had a Bad experience in the past I have been interviewing at many local and non-local providers to remedy this problem since I was pushed out of my doctors at VCI Virginia Cancer Institute I have experienced nothing but misery because of pain and fatigue I have been hospitalized 5 times since October 31st of 2017 these days has proven to be the worst days of my life. Every doctor has refused to help me because of the opiate crisis I found a doctor who drastically reduced my quantity in potency of my pain medications to adhere to new policies rather than manage my pain. I'm not considered anymore as my Doctor instructed me to take it or leave it. My world is upside down and unbearable now the stability of my son is also in Jeopardy now because I struggle to manage his care also I'm asking for considering an exception for those of us living with this debilitating disease to continue to receive opiates as it is essential to us being able to live a manageable and more comfortable life and not allow us to be victims of our circumstances. Please hear our plea because now were merely only existing. With adequate care many of sickle cell patients are able to function as active members in society.