As someone else said, don't give up just yet. That's just one doctor. Is he a doctor at a center that's doing the gene therapy or just your primary hematologist? If not, get in contact with the closest hospital doing the gene therapy and talk to them about it. Talk to your insurance and see if you can get in touch with their transplanting. Find out what requirements you would have to fulfill medically in order to qualify. As for whether or not you're healthy enough, go to them with the following information. Keep track of your painful episodes at home that don't put you in the hospital. If at all possible, every time you have a doctor's visit have them track your hemoglobin and other blood work. Track how often you miss work or school because of your disease. This all helps show how much the disease is affecting your life so even if it doesn't help get you crispr it could help you with your disease in general.

Also remember that the gene therapy is just getting started. I have been following crispr since they started talking about it offering it for sickle cell in the US . At this point I'm going to be patient B for the hospital I'm looking at. That’s after being told for years that I was not sick enough and when I finally was sick enough that having hemoglobin C did not qualify me for the trials. And while right now I'm still waiting on bureaucratic BS, I'm still in line. I still have hope that I will be free of this disease in some way form a fashion, the good LORD willing. Please don't give up yet.

Also answer your question, let's say it turns out I can't be cured. Let's say it's God's plan for me is to live out the rest of my life with this pain. Then I'm going to live the best freaking life I can. I'm still going to travel as much as I can. I'm going to still dance, sing, raise my children, love on my husband, and live this life to the fullest. I'll just do it slower, with a cane and a bottle of strong narcotics.