"It Ruined My Life": Nigerian Man Reveals Painful Side of Living with Sickle Cell, Story Trends
- A Nigerian man living with sickle cell shared how the condition has affected his life, costing him jobs and friendships
- He opened up about the struggles of hiding his illness while working and partying, and how a health crisis two years ago changed everything
- He spoke candidly about the pain, frequent hospital visits, and emotional toll of sickle cell, stressing the importance of genotype testing and awareness
A Nigerian man with sickle cell shared his real-life story, revealing how he lost his ₦150,000 monthly job due to the high cost of treatment and recounting his most painful experiences.
He recalled a time when he earned well as a writer and partied with friends, drinking as if he were strong so no one would notice his condition. But one day, everything changed.
Source: TikTok
Man with sickle cell tells emotional story
He revealed that people didn't know about his condition two years ago until a health crisis changed everything.
He detailed his experience battling the condition in a lengthy caption he added to a post made available on his TikTok page, @ntahboris.
He narrated how it all started in his post:
"Two years ago no one knew I had sickle cell. I drank, partied, and suffered in silence because I was terrified people would leave me.
"As a student, I doubled as a blogger and Orange worker and was making over ₦150k monthly, covering school, and feeling like I was winning. Then one crisis changed everything.
"I started having pain twice a month, and what I earned couldn’t pay hospital bills. I lost jobs. I stopped writing. I never finished my HND."
He spoke about a terrible experience where he woke up with knee pain, which affected his life:
"One night I woke to terrible knee pain. I crawled to open the door, and my life turned.
"Both knees were operated on. I lost my job as a writer. I lost weight. I prayed for death in silence; my mum prayed for me to stay. God didn’t heal me the way she asked, but He kept me alive, maybe to torment me more."
Source: TikTok
He spoke about how the illness cost him friends and even his job, saying he barely had time for anything and had to cover every expense himself:
"I lost friends. My name became a shadow. I became a burden at home. Employers fire you when you’re unproductive because you’re sick. I’m surviving instead of living. I still smile because that smile hides the ruins.
"People talk about God and faith as if it’s simple. They don’t know the nights I’m scared, the relationships that ended, the glow I lost in school, the jobs that left me."
He shared more in the post:
"Some people have it easier with sickle cell; maybe I’ll be one of them someday. But right now I’m telling the truth, and there are millions who are scared to show the reality of what it does to them for fear of looking weak, but the truth is these stories matter. Some people want to see to believe, and it’s sad."
Revealing another heartbreaking part, he added:
"Sickle cell ruined parts of my life. It changed my future. It taught me how fragile plans are. I’m tired of needles knowing my body better than freedom.
"If I survive this, I want my voice to teach someone else how important genotype testing is because my life depended on choices others made. Am I proud of having sickle cell? No. I’m a kind person who wants to grow, learn, and explore, but this disease hasn’t given me a choice. Call me that ‘sick kid’ if you must, just don’t bring a sick kid into the world without knowing the stakes.
"Love shouldn’t hurt. Life shouldn’t be only surviving. I crave the rain and wish I could take trips without oxygen tanks. I finally accepted I have sickle cell, but acceptance isn’t pride—it’s survival.
"I have sickle cell, and I don’t have a neat success story to post like the case years ago when it affected me less and my classmates didn’t even know I battled.
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"I need motivation too, so I am not here to motivate anyone. I am creating a mirror to show everyone what sickle cell is and how it can ruin your life.
"If this landed on your FYP, I’m sorry, but sometimes honesty is what saves someone.
"I write pain because it knows me best. Bye."
As the post on his experience with sickle cell made its way online, netizens stormed the comment section to share their thoughts.
Man with sickle cell opens up, draws reactions
BHADGURL POSI wrote:
"Am a sickle cell patient I don’t have crisis I don’t get sick if I even have malaria I just have to use paracetamol and have a good sleep that’s all I’m lucky and greatful to GOD."
Heaven:
"Two people could have just avoid this by going separate ways. Now the children suffers."
𝒜𝓁𝒾𝓎𝒶𝒽 noted:
"Not me watching this video while I’m having crisis as a sickle cell patient."
Queensize explained:
"I’m a sickle cell patient and I use to question why I couldn’t play out in the rain like other kids,I will be okay and the best minute my limbs are fighting against me hot water, run and painkillers are my companion, pains get soo much and intense that you can’t even describe it to someone 😅I got soo sick that I limp but in all this I’m a proud mum of Twins going back to school and picking up my life bit by bit it help me to know that it can all end today so I live life to the fullest. We’re survivors.."
Sweet Blessing added:
"Sending love to all sickle cell warriors. My younger brother was a sickle cell carrier but unfortunately I lost him 2 weeks ago."
|0№€L¥-••--ü§£R said:
"Am SS too lost my first love because of it thus what inspired my name and I got addicted to juice wrld because everytime I listen to his song I feel like am living and not struggling to survive 🫤 Sometimes I wish I didn't exist at all."
pretty_stacey4 shared:
"You write so well, I can’t remember the last time I read a caption this long. “I write pain because that’s what I know.” I pray you come to know some joy too, so you can write that someday. I pray your smile becomes genuine, not just a shield for the hurt."
Ngesang Noela revealed:
"I am a sickle cell patient too, battling from a hearing disability caused by the painful crisis for over 7years now, imagine living in our society today wout being able to hear and the world limits you….and to tell you the truth no sickler has it easier or easy, everyone is battling with their on pain and life but you know what, at the end of the day…we are STRONGER THAN PAIN and hell yeah! Thats why we’re WARRIORS.💪🏾 Sending yall batting with this painful disease LOVE AND LIGHT."
In other to enrich the story and provide deeper insight into living with sickle cell, Legit.ng spoke with the Nigerian man featured in the viral post to learn more about his experience managing the condition.
Describing his daily reality, he said:
"Sincerely, it is a pain I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. It is living in fear while being uncertain of happiness. The condition affects not just me, but everyone around me, as frequent hospital visits can wear down friends and family."
On the support he wishes were available, he added:
"Proper healthcare and subsidized routine medication for patients is crucial. There is also a need for less societal stigma sickle cell patients often feel left out because speaking up either earns pity or forces them to pretend everything is fine, which leads to depression and more pain."
Addressing the importance of genotype testing for young couples in Nigeria, he stressed:
"There are consequences for every action, and ignorance is never an excuse, especially when a child is affected. Knowing your genotype is the first step toward breaking the sickle cell chain and reducing stigma."
Despite the challenges, he finds hope in acknowledgment:
"Seeing people validate my pain and struggles gives me hope. There is nothing noble about enduring pain in silence; genuine support makes a difference."
His account underscores the physical, emotional, and societal challenges of living with sickle cell, highlighting the need for awareness, better healthcare, and strong support systems.
Student with sickle cell writes Elon Musk
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a Nigerian student, Muhammed Lawal from Bida, Niger state, who suffers from sickle cell, wrote to Elon Musk seeking help.
Lawal, who became seriously ill in 2020, had moved from hospital to hospital with the support of his parents, who were overwhelmed by his frequent medical crises.
Source: Legit.ng
