Sickle cell anemia is not a death sentence! I repeat it is not a death sentence. If you live with sickle cell you are not a disaster waiting to happen..… You can live with it and you can deal with it.
For my B.sc degree program I took it upon myself to carry out
intensive study on the repressive disease and yes its bad but can be managed
and you can live a healthy, close to absolutely normal life just like every other person…umm.. save for a
few… okay a few major bumps… umm nope I retract. Save for some major bumps on
the road which can make you feel half the human you are created to be. And that
could be really ‘whack!’
Having sickle cell anemia is not your fault. It is negligence
on the part of your parents and society. If they had played their role very
well, then unlikely for you to have fallen victim… so don’t ever let anyone
make you feel sorry for you.
You are still the same unique, awesome, terrific, amazing,
special person with an extra spice that makes you stronger, resilient, tougher,
persistent, and stubborn in a cute way. With the added bonus of making mum and
dad do just what they ordinarily wouldn’t do for the others.
The downside is that you have crisis: bone pain which could
be anywhere, legs, hands, waist, wrist, wherever you have joints then for those
who have critical menstrual pain such that you vomit and jus lay useless during
that period it could be worse if you are sickle cell, cramps double up. So the
best thing is once you notice sign of menstrual pain on the way get your pain
relief drugs close by and something to
chow by the side.
The pain thingy could kinda prove a challenge as most medical
personnel have this doctrine that you are sickle cell therefore you are an
addict. They are very stingy in dispensing drugs to patients because pain
relief drugs contain nicotine an addictive substance. in every sense of the
word you can’t be sickle cell without being an addict cause you take this drugs
regularly… and I say to myself for why?? Do they have the faintest idea what
you go through.. Nope they don’t. They fail to understand that if you want to
be an addict you can without necessarily having the gene. If I may add, more
than a half of the lot who are drug abusers are genotypically sound human
beings.
“Am not lazy just saving my energy” people don’t understand that. They never do.
Everyone thinks that you are lazy, lazy, and lazy!!! And with their turned up nose in your
direction they go ‘ hmmph you just too
lazy.’
You are not. You work on half the normal energy levels that
they have reason for the frequent fatigue and why you can’t do those strenuous
tasks your mates carry out with ease including sports. Strenuous sports like
running, weight lifting should be avoided if you can help it. .. so don’t stress
it , be gentle with yourself and always remember to keep it simple… the best
thing is knowing yourself and knowing how long you can go and keep it at that.
Don’t use others to compare you that would be most unfair.
Eating disorder is not the word to describe your perpetual
eating habit… food is necessary; fruits vegetables eat a lot more than the
person next to you. Your body breaks down food much faster and it always
requires a lot and drink lots of water it helps flush the system too.. So don’t
be shy gobble up that plate of beans and rice and yes you can help aunty over
there with her left over. Plug in your earpiece if they keep going on and on
about how much you have eaten today and you still expecting dinner. My dear
eat! Drink water too.
Take note of temperature blinkers… your body responds or
should I say is very sensitive to temperature changes. Avoid exposure to
extreme cold weather, keep yourself warm and nicely tucked at all times, and at
night if you feel you need a double blanket feel free. Use it.
People with sickle generally are known to be intelligent and
have achieved a lot in society, scaling milestones.. I could make a list for
you just so you know.
Go do that which you are set to do. Fly high. Do not let it
stop you, refuse to be limited. With God all things are possible.
So go on, don’t be afraid. Write that vision. Make it plain
and Runnnnnnnnnnnnn with it!
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