30/09/2016
We stand with one of ours today as we join the this . Thanks for sharing! Much love, Stay strong! 💪
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from -
It's the last day of September and I haven't posted anything to support sickle cell awareness month, I apologize. So I'm wearing red today to support the cause.
It's no joke being a sickler, you work so hard just so that people don't think of you as less, you eat so you don't lose weight and you can't eat just anything. Children with sickle-cell can't run and play hard like everyone else because they run out of breath and get tired before all the others, having any kind of fun may have an adverse effect later, it almost seems like everything you do is poised to trigger a crisis.
Then as you grow up, you have to come into your own and take charge, your parents are always cautious of you living away from home, they call you almost everyday to make sure you're doing fine, the constant questions - "Have you taken your drugs today?" "I hope you're eating a lot of greens o and not just rice rice rice" "Make sure you're properly covered before you go out, it doesn't matter how warm it is, make sure you don't catch a cold". You know it's all love, but sometimes you want to be free and truly independent.
Then when a crisis happens, if it's manageable, you sit at home and deal with it, take drugs and hope. Sometimes you have to call in sick, everyone thinks it's minor, no one knows that the pain you go through is on a whole other level. Then if you land in hospital, you deal with stupid doctors and nurses who tell you "Why you dey cry? Act like a man, stop all this rubbish", then let's not go to drips and transfusions. Still, it's your cross, bear it! Priapism? 😅😅😅 for people who don't know what that means, you don't know how it feels until you suffer it.
As time goes on, you get used to taking drugs without water, literally swallow and not care. You have to be cautious to be properly hydrated all the time, even when you're not thirsty, DRINK WATER!!! So many rules and regulations to follow just to keep your head above water.
But through it all, you always have to be the best man you can be.
My name is Ohakwe and I'm a Sickle Cell Warrior, I stand with all other warriors today and say 'We are strong and mighty'. 🙌💪💪💜
