About Us
.png/:/rs=w:1209,h:605,cg:true,m/cr=w:1209,h:605)
Founders
Morris Martin, M.A.SC, and Deatra Martin, M.A., MFT, are the founders of Crescent Moon Cellubration, Inc.
Morris Martin serves as President and has dedicated over 21 years to Hillsborough County Public Schools as a high school guidance counselor. He also serves as an instructor for the University of South Florida’s Upward Bound program for the past six years.
Deatra Martin, Executive Director, holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her professional background includes serving as Family Program Director at HealthCare Connections of Tampa, Intensive Outpatient Therapist, Compliance Utilization Manager, and currently Clinical Compliance Consultant for Elevance Health.
Both are graduates of Florida A&M University and bring extensive experience in psychology, education, family advocacy, clinical compliance, and community outreach.
.jpg/:/rs=w:1209,h:1209,cg:true,m/cr=w:1209,h:1209)
Our Story
Like many families without a known history of sickle cell disease, conversations about sickle cell trait, genetic counseling, and family planning were never emphasized or presented as urgent due to the lack of awareness and education surrounding the disease.
When we learned we were expecting our first child, we discovered that we both carried the sickle cell trait. We were reassured there was “only a 25% chance” our child would inherit the disease and were led to believe there was little reason for concern. After our son was diagnosed with sickle cell disease, the seriousness of the condition was minimized, and our doctor at the time even encouraged us to have another child. Our daughter was later also born with sickle cell disease.
Everything changed when our son experienced his first major crisis at just five years old. From that moment on, our family faced years of hospitalizations, treatments, emotional stress, and financial hardship. Through these experiences, we came to understand how critical education, advocacy, support, and informed family planning truly are — yet many families are never provided these resources early enough.
Crescent Moon Cellubration, Inc. was created from our lived experience and our desire to build a community of support for families facing the same hardships we know firsthand. This is more than a cause for us — it is deeply personal. We want families and individuals living with chronic illness to know they are not alone. Through awareness, support, education, and compassion, we are committed to helping others navigate the challenges of sickle cell disease with hope and community beside them.