The pains I experienced continued to heighten as I became older. This left me puzzled and confused and wondering when exactly it would end.

I went through different kinds of illnesses, one of which was Pneumonia. It was as if my chest walls were too heavy to carry, it would hurt so much at certain areas. I also noticed that I was falling ill a lot frequently during Christmas. As I got older I understood that it was the long journey to my hometown that was causing it, as my parents frequently took us to our state of origin to celebrate Christmas and New year. My body wasn’t strong enough to withstand this journey so most times when we get to my home town I would fall ill. However, as I grew older, a lot of education was given to my parents on how to manage my health when I went for monthly check ups at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, so with time, some of their lifestyle started to change.

Another illness I experienced was measles. it just seemed that my childhood was an unending journey of pain.
The one that definitely took my family members and I aback was when my hip sutured as the age of seven. My parents were totally weighed down by this issue, going to see every known doctor to get a solution but eventually they were informed that it was a complication that occurred rather frequently in Sickle Cell Anaemia and that they should take heart from the fact that the complication was not worse than what had occurred. Reason being that on so many occasions, the patient in question may require crutches to get on in life.

Initially when it occurred, the pain was excruciating but with all the medications I was given, over time it started to dissipate. However it left a scar, as I noticed that walking normally always triggered the pain hence, I developed the habit of walking fast just to overcome it. Finally this habit stuck and I became a naturally fast walker.

The link below explains further this complication at my hip joint which is also termed as Avascular Necrosis.

https://www.stjude.org/treatment/patient-resources/caregiver-resources/patient-family-education-sheets/hematology/avascular-necrosis-and-sickle-cell-disease.html

Despite all this issues, this didn’t cause my family to treat me differently in any way, as I participated in the same chores that my siblings also did whilst growing up even though my chores seemed a bit milder. There was virtually no task I didn’t participate in – sweeping, cleaning the house, washing and cooking. However I was exempted from strenuous activities, like scrubbing floors, carrying gallons of water etc. In all, taking part in these activities made me know what my strength and limitations were and helped me not to view myself as unable to attain like other individuals.

I guess the saddest part of my teenage years was being unable to go to the secondary school of my choice. I had graduated with very good grades at my elementary school and had hoped to attend one of the very good Federal government schools in the country but to my dismay, my parents thought differently and wanted me closer to home, so despite my good grades I was made to attend an all girls state secondary school which was closer to where I lived. This made me so very unhappy and I guess it limited me a bit. Even when I had asked to change schools, my request was denied.

You see I felt this action of my family was one that could mar me for life. When a naturally brilliant child is made to go to a school that is of a lower standard and devoid of some basic facilities, the onus lies on that child either to read or to play because there seems to be no strong motivating factor. Also some of the child’s abilities are left un-nurtured. This was my case but I chose to read nonetheless and not play, so despite this my grades remained good but not where they should have been.
Another reason why this particularly made me unhappy was because I kept asking myself if it was in vain that I had passed my elementary school exams very well. Anyhow I got over this and settled into the school I was made to attend.

So I’m hearing you ask, Onuoma where exactly is your discussion going today? lol. I decided that it would be okay to reminisce today and probably digress a little with the aim of letting you understand for a fact that apart from pains/crisis, it takes the grace of God to live with the SS genotype.

No matter how fragile they seem, in my opinion every warrior that has overcome childhood or is still growing is a strong individual. They are not asking to be pitied by society but to be accepted and not to be viewed differently. Thus, they should all be given a chance to make their respective marks in this life.

So until my next blog, think about most of the things I’ve said above and take care.