As I reflect on the year 2023 and how I was affected in one way or the other as a result of sickle cell, I can only look back at the last 12 months and be grateful to God. I heard some people say or think that perhaps I don’t have sickle cell, or it does not bother me. Believe me, I live with it, and I also go through the pain of it, mingled with its emotional consequences in my life.
I want to start by thanking those who have contributed their stories. They allowed me to share their stories in this column for the world to read, be inspired and be encouraged. In sharing, you have allowed other people to learn other aspects of sickle cell disease that perhaps they hadn’t experienced or knew nothing about it. I keep saying that there are so many facets to sickle cell, and it is not just about having a crisis.
I would like to also thank all of you my readers from all over the world because I know there are so many of you out there. Thank you for taking the time to read this column. It means a lot. What I usually find interesting is when I get an e-mail, where the writer would confess and type words to the effect of, ‘…hello I have been reading your article for several years now,’ or someone else might say,’… hello, I have been reading your article from when you started writing…’ Whenever I read those words, I am amazed. So, to every single reader, those who have been following me since I started writing this column several years ago, those who started reading it along the way, or those who would read once in a while, those who found this column last year, or most recently, in the last few months, right up to last week, I say thank you for reading.
Those of you who have then taken the next step of not just reading, but getting in touch by e-mail, thank you very much. It means a lot to me that you have taken time out of your busy schedule to get in touch. I especially like the emails where the writer would simply email to encourage me to keep on writing.
Most importantly I would like to thank myself. By this, I mean my commitment to making sure that every Saturday you can buy PUNCH or check it on PUNCH Online and have a column waiting for you to read regarding the issues of sickle cell. Those who are close to me know that sometimes I was also unwell and yet despite the situation that I found myself in, I never for once took time out to say, ‘Excuse me but I can’t write anything today’. Instead, I pushed beyond the pain, the misery, and challenge that I was going through in order to make sure that there was a column for you my readers from all over the world to read. And so for that, I say, well done Tola.
In as much as there are now cures for sickle cell, such as bone marrow transplant and gene therapy, the reality is that those who will live without a cure are much more than those who will live with a cure. Due to that, I want to share what I know in order to let people understand that living with sickle cell doesn’t mean that you can’t push yourself to fulfil your destiny or your purpose no matter how sick you are. The Internet has made a lot of things possible. Of course, it will be tough for you if you are living with SCD and sometimes you might feel like giving up, but please don’t. There’s so much joy in being an achiever, there is also a lot of delight in finishing first or starting something new, or being the first who has sickle cell who has done…
Don’t ever think that because you live with sickle cell, you cannot achieve your dreams. You can, and you will if you’re determined to do so. Any positive dream that you have is worth fighting for.
I would like to remind you my readers that I do not have any medical background relating to sickle cell. So, no matter what it is, I cannot give you any medical advice. Everything that I write about results from a lot of research. And from my life experiences or of people that I know who also live with sickle cell. I have a lot of knowledge about it because I’m passionate about sickle cell and I’m fervent about talking on how to manage sickle cell.
I talk a lot about diet and food because a healthy lifestyle is one of the key things to living a life of not too many crises. Eating well and not eating junk. One of the key things that will help you stay healthy despite sickle cell disease is knowing how to manage what you eat. What you eat is very important for anyone living with Sickle cell disease.
I get asked a lot of questions about food, what to eat, and what not to eat. The main thing is to remember these major things, which are drinking plenty of water, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables in season, eating eggs, and lastly eating pulses.
Another aspect of sickle cell that people write to me about is the issue of relationships or compatibility. I believe that with the emergence of the Internet and better-equipped laboratories, couples intending to get married need to test themselves before marriage in order to find out if their offspring might have sickle cell or not. Some of us, who have sickle cell, have it because our parents didn’t test themselves or the issue about checking oneself was not done back then. However, that is not the case now and so it is very easy to go to a reputable laboratory and have oneself tested.
Above all, I wish you my readers a Happy New Year until the next time.
If you would like to get in touch with me about sickle cell, do so via email: [email protected]. And do check out my blog: https://www.dailylivingwithsicklecell.com/My book on sickle cell – ‘How to live with Sickle Cell’ and my other books are available for purchase on www.amazon.com.
