ARE YOU ALSO GUILTY OF USING THE WORD 'SICKLER'?

My good friend Tola is a strong woman (even though she might disagree). She is the woman behind livestrong.com.ng. Tola reached out to me for an article on my perception of folks living with the Sickle Cell disorder and to be honest, it took quite a while before I got the hang of what I wanted to write. 

Recently, I stumbled on something written by popular Radio OAP, Tosyn Bucknor. In it, she shared her Sickle cell story (I didn't know that too!) and ended with a few hashtags. One caught my eye: #SickleStar 

No need for further stories. Read my article for Tola's site after the cut

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I don’t remember the exact first time I saw her, but I remember that every time I noticed her, there was always something about her (even to my ‘little girl’ eyes at the time). She was short, and thin. Her stomach usually protruded unnaturally from her clothes. She was always quiet; I hardly ever heard her saying anything sef. Sometimes I would see her in company of her sisters; 3 of them. But they were all so boisterous that you might think she wasn’t related to them. I must have asked my mum about her out of childish curiosity, because she told me that the girl was “SS”.

Source: pinterest

That was my first awareness of Sickle cell. In fact, she told me, the ‘girl’ I had been noticing was older than all but one of her 3 sisters. Sickle Cell made her the way she was. Then I was told how badly this ‘thing’ treats its sufferers. How they could be bouncing one minute and crawling in pain the next. Bottomline, I saw Sickle cell sufferers as victims (did I mention most folks called them ‘sicklers’?). It won’t be surprising then, to know that what I had to offer sickle cell sufferers was mostly PITY. What else do they need, right? WRONG! 

Related: When Life is Anything but Rosy

Imagine my shock when I found out that one of the few women I looked up to as both career and marital model, was in this category I so ‘generously’ offered my pity. This is one woman that never ceased to amaze me by how many tasks she could handle seamlessly, on the home-front and at work. She was my first reality check on Sickle Cell. I began to imagine that I had been wrong all along. I guess that was when I got interested enough to actually know what Sickle cell means- its causes, implications, myths and facts, etc.

Source: eschooltoday.com

I went on to meet more young folks living with Sickle cell. One of them happens to be the strong woman behind Livestrong. I remember seeing her unfamiliar face for the first time at a camp meeting, and so unlike me, I was captivated by her natural beauty. It was so bad I could not keep it to myself; I just had to walk up to her and let her know how beautiful I found her. I was not drawn to a sickly appearance or sagging spirit. I was drawn to Beauty, in and out.

Source: slideshare.net

I’ve come a long way from the girl who would automatically pity anyone living with Sickle cell. I’ve come to realize that they are as human as the next person, they have peculiar challenges and CAN overcome those challenges! They can Live Strong. I do not even dare to imagine that I know what folks living with Sickle Cell go through. I’ve seen some in the middle of a crisis and it wasn’t cool to watch (Not to now mention how it feels). More than anything, I admire their courage, especially those who still hold on to their faith. It’s easy to feel like God has turned His back on you whenever your body doesn’t feel good. So, for these ones to still trust in Him despite constant discomforts, is inspiring.

Health challenges can be a major source of low self-esteem. Here’s stuff that might help you deal with that.

I’ll end this by saying nothing matches a trusting heart and an undying spirit… Livestrong

Peace and Chocolate cake, 

Mary