Sickle Cell Warrior

WE ARE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK: A NOTE FROM A SICKLE CELL WARRIOR I recently stumbled on a post on X (formerly Twitter) where someone asked, “Why is it that most sickle cell carriers are above average in intelligence?” Another replied with a story of brilliance cut short; a friend who aced WAEC, became a doctor, practiced for ten years, and then died, childless. They concluded with a myth: “They also find it difficult to father a child.” That response broke me. I’m here to say this loud and clear -  we are not your pity stories . We are not defined by the pain we endure. We are defined by the strength we wield through it. I am a Sickle Cell Warrior . I’m a father  to two amazing children (a boy and a girl). Not by struggle. By choice. I stopped at two because I wanted to, not because my health limited me. I’m also a husband, a professional thriving in the tech space, and an advocate determined to bridge data with health communication  because the world needs the tr...

I don't think I will ever be able to stop writing about Sickle Cell. I just lost a friend/sister to that struggle yesterday (June 27th, 2020)... and I can't imagine what her family will be going through now. Dear Mr & Mrs. Hospitals, It's raining season and we haven't come to fake crisis or pains, stop treating us with levity... I am blaming you for the death of my friend because whenever you see a case of VOC, you think there are bigger fishes to fry and could just be managed by routine Analgesics. Or is it your mission to kill us one after the other so we do not exist again, as we battle with what we didn't bargain for.  Years of tireless efforts and struggle, Years of trying to maintain her health..Amount of money and stress spent on her... All the efforts by the parents... A final year student who is on her project... Enduring all the academic struggles and tussles... All gone! I have got a shocker for you... One Heroine is gone but we stay strong. We will c...

  * Sickle cell, crises free! Minor crises, if at all! Sickle cell, crises free! Minor crises, if at all! *S*-ome fresh fruits and juice, daily drink! *I*-ncrease your water intake, liberal fluid. *C*-omplete your immunization, boosters take. *K*-now you neither need, too much heat nor cold. *L*-earn to sleep and rest, as much as you could. *E*-at always plenty very rich veggies and food! *C*-ut off any form of strain and stress! *E*-xercise mildly and enjoy plenty fresh air. *L*-ive a life free, from sorrow and sadness. *L*-earn always, to be in very happy mood! Sickle cell, crises free! Minor crises if at all! Sickle cell, crises free! Minor crises, if at all! *C*-all for folic acid and CELLGEVITY, a daily dose! *R*-emember palodrine, a daily dose. *I* -Including - astymin, a daily dose. *S*-ome analgesics, if some pains occur. *E*-nlist to visit your doctor, when you wish. *S*-ee your doctor fast, when you must! *F*-lee from a single, mosquito bite!...

Fear of the unknown I use to be afraid of the unknown. I use to worry about all I've heard about sickle cell anaemia. I use to think I don't have a life. I use to think my life was a "bling-bling" Now I know better... everyone also has a fear of the unknown. Some people are younger than I and had no sickle cell or health commas, yet..they slept forever. Some others,are my age mates,with no sickle yet, they took the free ticket flight to the yonder. No o, not anymore, I have a life just like anyone..I've given up a thousand times because I feared the unknown. Not anymore, I hereby evict, self pity, nonsense discovery of fear, man made story and names to scare me from life. All my thoughts are now rebranded! My hope is ALIVE! I'm special, with a special mission on earth. I'm a warrior and I'm stronger than pain! ...written by Ese

I have tried as much as possible to stop writing about sickle cell disorder. Alas! Sickle cell has not stopped writing about me. I have constantly fought as a warrior every September for about 4 consecutive years, especially days close to my birthday, and this had been the reason for my moodiness and unwillingness to celebrate my birthday. Over the years, I have had causes to be hospitalised, battling different forms of crisis. But all glory to God who yearly grants me victory. Oh! I started this month (September, 2018) with a strong mind... Unwilling to go through the cycle. I devised several means to dodge the coming 4th Sickle September War... However, the war started and as a warrior, I had to fight for my life. This war however lasted than usual. The battlefield was set as at late August. It began with a fever, and personally, I decided to run some tests so as to fight back and conquer before it eventually led to *my sickle September*. .. How do you interpret walkin...

At the early days of my life, I sat down to think about what my future will look like, knowing I have sickle cell disorder and behold I couldn’t think of anything else but death. My life was filled with bitterness, tears filled my eyes day and night, all I could do was nothing but THINK. Growing up, I met diverse kind of people with diverse perspective about the disorder, to some, “You are a spirit child – Abiku ”, to some it’s a “death sentence”, to some, “you can’t survive the age of 20”,… but to some, “A special child, wonderfully and fearfully created by God” In the journey of life, I met good friends who helped me through my crisis period, friends who will always pray for me, stand by me in times of trouble, I can’t but appreciate such great friends in my life But wait a minute, what about those who are not privileged to have great friends like I do, those whose parents have neglected and they say “we know spending anything on you is a waste of money and resources, so...