We recently had the chance to connect with TeVaun Ferris and have shared our conversation below.
TeVaun , so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Telling my story and spreading awareness. I was afraid to share my story because I was ashamed and thought that the world would see me differently. I felt as though the world we see only my disease and not me as a human being which happens quite often in the world today. Now, I’m comfortable sharing my story so that I can connect with others others and help those who are struggling with these same feelings themselves.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is TeVaun but I go by Millz. I am a sickle cell warrior, which is used to describe anyone who is fighting the battle of sickle cell. When I was around fifteen or sixteen doctors informed my mother that I wouldn’t make it past eighteen. With this revelation I created my brand, Sicker Than The Rest. I created STTR to spread awareness as well as help those who’ve lost their fight and those who feel they must be silent or feel misunderstood by their illness. That’s where my clothing brand comes into play.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
The person who saw me the most clearly would be my mom, and my older sister Tammy. My mom, would always tell me I had a purpose I may not know what the purpose is but everyone has a purpose and when God is ready to show you what that purpose is he’ll show you. My sister, would tell me that there’s a reason for everything and she’s the reason my brand was created. The first hoodie that she made me gave me a purpose to do what I’m doing now she was the first person believed in me when everyone else doubted me. She saw me not only as a brother but as an inspiration to others, someone with a voice who felt voiceless.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain at the age of I’ll say eighteen or nineteen. I was at the point where I felt old enough to not hide it anymore but I also I felt like someone was going through the same thing or if not the same thing something similar to what I was going through at that moment in my life. I believe that people do go through the same things in life just the that circumstances are different.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to my business, and all that entails. I’m committed to spreading awareness and leaving behind a legacy that can be proud of knowing that it’s helped someone or that I was able to teach someone about an illness that’s rarely talked about in today’s society. My commitment to my business is to ensure that those closest to me will have something to remember me by, something I created and put everything into. Getting my brand out there and seeing people wear my product is a goal that each time I revive any type of reviews or photos of customers it makes me proud.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I want to leave behind is that, I was humbled, I spoke up for those who felt like they were not being heard. Not being treated right when it comes to the medical field and the Sickle Cell community. I want them to let people know that everything that I did was for the Sickle Cell community, from the young generation to the older generation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.SickerThanTheRest.com
- Instagram: @official_sickerthantherest
- Facebook: SickerThanTheRest
Image Credits
I would like to credit my longtime friend and colleague Desiree Greer her Instagram account is @Starfya_
