"Allah Heal Us": 41-Year-Old Woman With Sickle Cell, No Husband or Kids, Laments State in Viral Clip
- A 41-year-old Nigerian woman living with sickle cell opened up about her daily struggles, including how the condition has affected her hand
- Despite not being married and having no children, she shared her hope for the future, emphasizing that good health is essential before she can focus on other life goals
- In an emotional interview, she explained how people sometimes refuse to help her due to her condition, but she remains cautious and grateful for those who understand her situation
A 41-year-old woman living with sickle cell, who has no husband nor child, speaks about her life struggles, how people treat her, and explains what the condition has done to her hand.
She gave a detailed explanation in the video while being interviewed by a lady who goes around helping individuals through her platform.
Source: TikTok
Nigerian woman talks about daily pain and life with sickle cell
The woman mentioned that she is not married nor does she have a child, but she plans to have both in the future, explaining that it is only a person with good health who can focus on other aspects of life.
According to a post made by a user, @aaclown.backup, via the popular social media platform TikTok, the 41-year-old woman living with sickle cell was interviewed as she shared her experience.
She spoke in her native language, Yoruba, explaining that her hand has been affected as a result of her sickle cell condition and revealed that she can't stretch it.
She mentioned that she can't stretch her hand and if something falls, she can't bend down to pick it up, hence needing help from others.
Source: TikTok
When she calls on people, some refuse to help, but only those who understand her condition offer assistance.
Her statement in part:
"I have faith I'll marry and have kids but what's on my mind at the moment, when I have good health I'll know what I want to do in life."
"But for an individual who isn't healthy and isn't making progress. If something falls now, I can't take it. If I ask someone to help me pick it, the problem would be told to not help me and what they said is true because many people have landed in bad places after rendering help."
"I am always at alert and have a bag and put my things inside because if it falls, there's no one I can call unless someone's who understands that my hand can't be stretched."
"It's what one keeps a secret that has value, however there are some things one should hide because no one knows where favor would come from."
At a point in the video, the lady who interviewed her offered money to the woman with sickle cell so she could get drugs and treat herself, after which they both prayed together.
After the video made its way online, concerned individuals stormed the comment section of the post to share their thoughts.
Reactions as woman laments life with sickle cell
Ogo_otoge wrote:
"Omo SS they try ooooo..seriously."
BEST KAMPALA PLUG IN lLORIN said:
"Ya robi please hear the cry of this woman, heal her permanently because nothing is impossible for you to do I pray for you wholeheartedly receive permanent healing bijahi rosululloi."
TEMIDIRE shared:
"May Almighty Allah send destiny helper to her."
omodolapo said:
"May ALLAH heal her."
Slimzy pearl wrote:
"i really feel for her though but battling with mine may Almighty allah heal us all Even if not completely."
Oluwa kemisola noted:
"Thank God for the gift of life."
oluwatoyin0212 added:
"May almighty Allah be with you."
Kehinde Ajoke said:
"Almighty Allahu we help you."
Adunola105 Rashidat shared:
"Thank God for the gift of life ma'am."
rajiyesiratabimbo noted:
"May Allah send her helper soon."
OPEM wrote:
"Nothing can happen to her again once she don clock 40."
Dr. Olon Olambe, who runs Mercy Clinic in Ikorodu, told Legit.ng that the challenges of sickle cell anemia in Nigeria are rooted largely in ignorance.
He stressed the need for young people to carry out proper genotype and blood group tests before making marriage decisions.
“Before marriage, couples must go for thorough investigation of genotype. This is very, very important before falling in love. If both couples discover they are AS or SS, they should not go ahead and marry. It is not advisable for AS to marry SS, because there is 100% possibility of having a child with sickle cell anemia (SS)."
Describing the condition, he shared:
“It is a very critical condition to manage. The immunity can fail at any time. Today it may be headache, tomorrow it could be madness, the next day tiredness. Before you know it, it can lead to sudden death. So, it is not easy to manage."
He added that blood group compatibility is also vital:
“Even blood group matters. If you fall in negative and positive, they are not compatible. And when they go to a doctor, he will advise them not to fall in love, talk less of going into marriage."
On treatment, the health professional was clear:
“Sickle cell has no cure, only management. Because it is genetic, it affects the blood, the red and white blood cells. You can only manage it but not cure it."
Addressing the question of lifespan, Dr. Olambe said people with sickle cell can live well if they manage their condition properly:
"Medically, we believe the age of 18 to 21 is mature enough for them to take responsibility for their own drugs. They are usually placed on folic acid. Some will say, ‘Ah, it is smelling,’ or they forget to take it."
"But at 21, you should be able to say, ‘Let me pick my drug.’ You can put one on the television, another on the table, one in your bag whenever you remember, you just take it. Without water, it is easy to swallow. So, from age 18 to 21, you can manage yourself well."
On government intervention, Olambe praised the efforts of the health sector:
“The Nigerian government is trying. We have departments in general hospitals dedicated to sickle cell anemia. They manage the patients well and advise them on what to take and what not to take."
Concluding, he offered advice to the public:
“Genotype testing before marriage is very important. This helps to prevent the risk of giving birth to a child with sickle cell. It is better to avoid the problem than to face the lifelong struggle of managing it."
Nigerian Man Shares Emotional Struggles of Living with Sickle Cell
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that a Nigerian man living with sickle cell opened up about the painful realities of the condition.
He revealed how it has affected his life, costing him jobs and friendships, and spoke candidly about the struggles of hiding his illness while working and socializing.
The man shared that he lost a ₦150,000 monthly job due to the high cost of treatment and detailed some of his most painful experiences.
Source: Legit.ng
