KEY TAKEAWAYS: Metairie resident Daniel Cressy became Louisiana’s first sickle cell patient to complete FDA-approved gene-editing therapy. The treatment used Casgevy CRISPR technology to modify stem cells and increase fetal hemoglobin production. Three months after the procedure, Cressy’s hemoglobin levels are at the highest point of his life and he is pursuing a commercial pilot career. Manning Family Children’s said the breakthrough expands access to advanced gene therapies for sickle cell patients across Louisiana and the Gulf South.   A 23-year-old Metairie resident has become Louisiana’s first sickle cell disease patient to complete a gene-editing treatment that physicians say has functionally cured the disorder, marking a milestone for advanced medical care in the state and opening the door for him to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. Daniel Cressy celebrated the achievement Monday at Manning Family Children’s in New Orleans, where he rang the ceremonial bell often used to mark the completion of cancer and blood disorder treatments. The event drew state and local leaders, including Gov. Jeff Landry, U.S. Rep. Troy Carter and New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, along with members of Cressy’s medical team, family and friends. Hospital officials said Cressy is the first patient in Louisiana and the Gulf South to receive gene-editing therapy using the FDA-approved Casgevy treatment for sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder in the world and disproportionately affects African Americans. Louisiana has more cases per capita than any other state, according to Manning Family Children’s. The condition can cause severe pain, organ damage and frequent hospitalizations. For Cressy, the disease also stood in the way of his goal of becoming a commercial airline pilot. He said the Federal Aviation Administration informed him that he would need to cure or effectively eliminate the disease before he could qualify medically for a pilot’s license. After learning about advances in gene-editing technology, Cressy began exploring treatment options with physicians at Manning Family Children’s, one of a limited number of programs nationally offering both FDA-approved gene therapies for sickle cell disease. The treatment process spanned more than two years. In late 2025, doctors collected Cressy’s stem cells and sent them to Scotland for genetic modification using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The modified cells were returned to New Orleans earlier this year. Before receiving the altered cells, Cressy underwent chemotherapy to eliminate diseased blood-forming cells. Physicians infused the genetically modified cells back into his body on March 18. Dr. Ben Watkins, director of the Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapies Program at Manning Family Children’s and section chief of pediatric hematology/oncology at Tulane Medicine, helped lead the treatment program. According to the hospital, the therapy modifies blood-forming stem cells to increase production of fetal hemoglobin, which prevents red blood cells from taking on the sickle shape responsible for many of the disease’s complications. Three months after the infusion, hospital officials said Cressy’s hemoglobin levels are the highest they have been in his lifetime. He is now working toward obtaining the medical certification required to pursue commercial aviation training. “Overcoming what seemed impossible became my greatest blessing,” Cressy said. “While many spend their lives searching for purpose, mine found me. Now, instead of looking for meaning, I can spend my life fulfilling it.” Lucio Fragoso, president and CEO of Manning Family Children’s, said the case demonstrates the impact of recent advances in gene therapy and highlights the growing availability of specialized care in Louisiana. “Curative gene therapy is restoring futures, and Daniel has paved the way for what is possible together with his care team at Manning Family Children’s,” Fragoso said. Manning Family Children’s, part of LCMC Health, said its stem cell transplant and cellular therapies program is the only pediatric program in Louisiana accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapies and the state’s only pediatric CAR-T certified program. The hospital collaborates with LSU Health New Orleans, Tulane University School of Medicine and several national research and transplant networks. Hospital leaders said the breakthrough could provide hope for additional sickle cell patients across Louisiana and the Gulf South as gene-editing therapies become more widely available. ...read more read less