Hope for Sickle cell patients

16/12/2021

Good day family.
My name is Oche Emmanuel, a 22yr old sickle cell patient who had an unsuccessful surgery as a result of Sickle Cells'complication(Avascular Necrosis.)
I had this surgery on the 10th of May, 2021 at a hospital in Kano state, and has to be taken back to the theatre three more times because I was shabbily treated.
There was no mutual relationship between I and my doctors. I ask questions where i don't get to understand things and I'd be intentionally ignored.
Muscles were taken from me without my consent at the theatre with no explanation on it till date.
I reported every lapses of the hospital's management to the Servicom department in the hosp. but I wasn't taken seriously. The supposed implant that was fixed in me to help me walk again without pains was removed on my fourth time in the theatre without prior notice because the open wound I had was infected by a vacuum machine dresser they fixed on me during my stay in the hospital.
And while they were removing the implant, a residue of it was left inside of my leg which has been causing me sleepless nights. Ever since the last time I met with my doctors immediately after my discharge, my folder was flung away by a doctor who refused to see me because I honestly told him I do not understand him after explaining to me in his medical terms why the implant has to be removed. That was the last time I met with my doctors and ever since that incident, they have refused to see me and my folder being hidden. I was told to pay the outstanding bill of approximately N300,000 before I can be attended to yet the implant we paid for that worth N750,000 is still in their possession.
I'm an orphan under the care of my elder sister. We have suffered alot and I know what it took us to raise money for my treatment. We're still owing bank loans and yet nothing to show for it. Please, I need help. I want justice to prevail.
I'm currently living without a hip bone in so much pains day and night.
Help me end this trauma I

08/12/2021

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01/12/2021

In my search for healing and change of genotype, I have come across lots of fake prophecies and so called religious exercise.
One time, I was beaten mercilessly all in the name of casting out the sickle cell demon. I eventually ended up in the hospital. A mistake my mom regretted until her death. On another occasion, I was told to go lie on the church altar during a very serious crises, I ended up passing out and waking up in the hospital.
About two years ago, a fake pastor who said that the reason why I was a warrior was because I was a man in the spirit world and therefore I was been published for it.
I was even told that me advocating for sickle cell warriors is a reason why God cannot heal me because it means I love being a warrior. Some even go as far as saying the only way to be healed is by having a "holy s*x" with them and unfortunately, a lot of warriors have fallen victims all because they want to be healed.
My question is how did we get to this level?
God has never made a mistake in His creations, therefore I see no reason why I should be made to go through emotional and psychological stress just because of what an ignorant and insensitive man or woman says about me. What matters the most is what God says about me.
A warrior who needed blood urgently died because her pastor said taking another person's blood was a terrible sin against God. But I guess her death was not a sin. She wasn't the first warrior whose life ended that way.
I have stopped moving from place to place all in the name of looking for healing. Not that I've lost all hope but in reality, I've come to believe that God has a glorious destiny and future for me and not even sickle cell can cut it short. His plans for me are perfect.
So to all warriors out there, never allow yourself to be stressed or even lose your life just because you are looking for healing. What God does is perfect.
You are perfect and created for a purpose.
My name is Angel and I am a winner.

18/11/2021

True life story of a warrior....
(Names changed for privacy and security).

It was another bright day and Tracy was ready to make the most out of it. Born as a sickle cell warrior, Tracy has never allowed her health status to limit her in any way. In fact, apart from the frequent illness and yellowish eyes, it was difficult to believe that this pretty and intelligent lady was a sickle cell warrior. She was also onto sports and belonged to the top 5 students in her class. Tracy was beautiful in and out.
And so that very day, she went to class and as the lecture was going on, she began to feel weird, She already knew what it was but She still tried to endure the pains because she has been threatened by the lecturer several times. Due to the frequent illness and absence from class, the only way the lecturer can help her with the attendance and missed tests is by him having s*x with her. That was his condition and in order to avoid such an atrocity, she had to endure the pains and remain in the class.
This wasn't the first time she has been molested s*xually. Almost all the lecturers and even the male students wanted her but Tracy was determined to focus on her studies and prove to the world that Sickle cell warriors can be at the top and the best in whatever they find themselves doing.
She managed to finish her lecture for the day and was happy that at least she was able to avoid the lecturer that day, little did she know that the worst is yet to happen.
Jay was Tracy's boyfriend. They became friends after She helped saved his life when he wanted to commit su***de. Her words of encouragement and support got him to fall in love with her. They were perfect in every way and with her support, he was able to bounce back to life.
So that very day, she got home, took her medications and decided to rest. But by midnight, the pain was unbearable. She couldn't breathe. Every step was so painful that she just couldn't move an inch.The first person she called was her brother, but he was with his girlfriend and she didn't allow him to go out and attend to his sister because she taught he was lying.
Tracy was able to get to the roadside where she was assisted by a good Samaritan who took her to the hospital. She was attended to by the doctor on duty and when she was calm, she decided to go home but she was going to need help. She decided to call Jay, after all, he was her friend and he was aware of her health condition. And so she called him and he came around. On getting home, Jay decided to allow the demon in him to manifest. Not minding the fact that she just got back from the hospital and was still in pains, Jay bounced on her and s*xually assaulted her. She was weak, she was in pains and couldn't defend herself. And after the deed has been done, he started to apologize, saying he was pushed by the devil and his friends who told him that it's unusual for a pretty girl to be in a relationship without having s*x.

Helplessly, Tracy couldn't even cry. So many questions going through her mind. What was her crime? Did she actually deserve this inhuman treatment from someone who claimed to love her? Why should s*x be used as a yardstick to measure love or be a prerequisite for helping her or anyone. But it dawned on her. This is Africa where s*xual abuse and molestation is a norm. And being a sickle cell warrior makes it even more harder.

Lots of warriors have found themselves in abusive relationships where they are treated as nothing but a s*x toy who has no right to protest. They just have to accept whatever comes to them because they are scared of not finding a man who can accept them and their health condition. Worst part is that the families of these women will tell them to endure and be patient.

It took Tracy several years to be able to speak out, to love and trust again.
There are so many warriors who have been through this same issue. But just because you want to remain in marriage or maintain a certain position doesn't mean you have to put up with s*xual abuse and molestation.

Say No to s*xual abuse and molestation in Africa.
Being a sickle cell warrior doesn't make you less of a human..
You are created special and deserve to be treated so.

You will surely find true love. Someone who will treat you like the queen that you are.

My name is Angel Blessing and I am the warrior queen 👑.

*xualabuse

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12/11/2021

I look forward to being a mother.....

02/11/2021

We are still moving

Looking back at all I've been through while growing up as a sickle cell warrior, all I do is just smile, lift my head up and say indeed I am a warrior. Not just a warrior but a conqueror.
I have been told I had three months to live before I went in for a heart procedure.
I was told I may never walk again due to leg ulcer and my legs may have to be amputated.
I have been through an ENT procedure because I wasn't breathing well and was always passing out.
I have been through chemo, dialysis, countless blood transfusions and surgeries.
What about my relationships? I have been hurt beyond words.
Lest I forget, the stigmatization and insults, that almost made me attempt su***de..
I was told I would amount to nothing in life because I was going to die early...
But despite all these, I graduated as one of the best student in my department in school. I have been awarded best Marketer of the year, I have been awarded as best teacher of the year and many more.
Whatever comes my way, I cannot be stopped. I will leave my footprints in the sands of time and I will prove to the world that sickle cell is not a curse.
Sickle cell Patients are brilliant, intelligent, smart and hardworking.
Note that I was lucky to have the best family in world who believes in me.
To all warriors out there, never give up the fight. Always stay positive and optimistic.
My name is Angel Blessing and I am a warrior.

19/10/2021

SICKLE CELL WARRIORS AND THE MEDICAL SYSTEM..
MY STORY....
Some times, while we are busy advocating for sickle cell and creating awareness, some medical personnels especially nurses are as blind and ignorant like an illiterate.
Growing up, I had my first blood transfusion at the age of 7 not until I turned 16, it became so frequent due to infections and other complications.
I remembered a period when I was having transfusions twice in a month. I was coughing badly, running high temperature and other symptoms and the doctor demanded that I do an infection test to determine why I wasn't getting better even after the transfusions and medicine I was taking.
When the result came out, I vividly remember one of the nurses who looked at me and said " Shame on you, at this young age, you already have infection, how many men have you been sleeping with". I was shocked. I was just 16yrs, I never had a boyfriend or had any s*xual activity. And throughout that day I was just crying and being that inquisitive teenager, I wanted to know what went wrong and so I decided to meet another doctor who eventually became my private doctor.
With tears in my eyes, I told him that I've never had a boyfriend or engage in any s*xual activity, I also told him what the nurse said to me. He looked at me and told me that even babies who are sickle cell warriors are prone to have infections, it wasn't an issue of s*xual activity or carelessness but that as warriors, a little thing as a needle prick can lead to infection in sickle cell warriors.
But how come the nurse didn't know about this??
Same thing happened when I was about to have the last surgery. My stomach was swollen like a pregnant woman and to ascertain what was wrong, a full body scan and biopsy was to be done. My dad was by my side when two nurses walked in and said, " Oga, who is responsible for your daughter's pregnancy, why are you even encouraging her by staying with her?. Immediately, my dad bursted into tears, here lies his daughter dying and those who were supposed to be a source of encouragement were actually making matters worst.
Two days later, after the surgery and when they saw me at the I. C. U, they were ashamed of what they said to me and my dad.
There are other instances which I can't mention here but it goes to show that even the so called medical personnels are not well educated when it comes to sickle cell anemia.
Their approach and quick negative conclusion about sickle cell warriors shows that our medical systems in Nigeria and Africa as a whole needs restructuring.
Imagine a doctor saying, let's keep giving her pentazocine injection until she dies. I heard him clearly and gave him a piece of my mind.
An Indian after telling me that I had just 3months to live due to the heart problems I had, said he can actually get me pregnant so I can at least have a child before I die and he's going to pay my family. I looked at him and asked me a question. You said I have just 3 months to live, yet you want to get me pregnant and pregnancy lasts for 9months, what happens after the 3 months and he was speechless. Three months is almost two decades now and I'm still standing to the glory of God.
This makes me to be scared of some doctors and I feel that the safety of sickle cell warriors with some medical personnels is not really guaranteed.
I know that there are good doctors and nurses who are compassionate and understanding but the quacks seems to be much.
This is a battle that the community and society needs to tackle together.

To warriors, you are the first beneficiary of what ever you do, mind your lifestyle, be clean at all times, avoid what you think you don't need and do what is necessary to avoid frequent visits to the hospital.
Also, mind who takes care of you.
Pay attention to what is being said or given to you. Don't just lie down.
Ask your doctor questions.

Lastly, be positive at all times and never let anyone look down on you.

My name is Angel Blessing and I am a conqueror.

08/10/2021

Just tired...
This morning when I woke up to pray, I couldn't utter any word other. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I asked God for nothing but mercy over my health. It was as if I had a premonition that something was going to happen and one hour later, I landed in the hospital with the doctors snapping their fingers just to keep me awake and conscious. Obviously I was drifting into unconsciousness.
The last thing I remembered was walking to the bus stop, getting into the bus and it was like the whole world was in the bus. I was seeing double and I held on to the guy next to me because it was as if the bus was falling or something.
As soon as I became conscious, the first question the doctor said was " how can you be suffering and still smiling"? My response was that because a lot of people get inspired by my smile and i smile as a way of encouragement to others. His question brought tears to my eyes and my response moved him to tears because even though I was in pains, I still had a smile on my face while I was responding to him., I tried to appear strong so I wouldn't have to be admitted in the hospital but I looked like a caricature and I had to be observed.
My BP was over the roof..
Blood level was so low and it was difficult to even get a steady pulse...

Three days ago I was bouncing so the doctor said what could have happened to me within two days that would warrant this sudden breakdown....
The simple answer was that I had a sudden emotional outbursts and even though I was aware that emotional outbursts can lead to crises, I didn't know it will lead to what I experienced today. I tried so hard to avoid any emotional outbursts but sometimes it is beyond me.

The question I keep asking God is that what is the crime I committed that am paying for??
The more I pray, the more it seems like the prayers just usher in the pains and crises.
Does it mean that His ears are closed to my cries and pleas for mercy??
Why do I have to spend more on drugs and hospital bills instead of on my self.
Truly, am grateful I have a good paying job but my salary shouldn't just be for medicines or hospital bills.

I haven't been to church for over a month now. No body cares to ask apart from assuming that I have backslided.
I know how I move in pains to work or church and I still try to give in my best.

Right now, I don't know what to even think anymore but I don't think am ready to give up now.
I will keep pushing until it is time for me to rest.
I know that the destiny of so many people rest on my shoulders and I am not ready to fail them.
I am eternally grateful to God almighty for the gift of life but right now, my strength and will power seems to be fading away.

To warriors, I know that sometimes stress is inevitable as humans but we have to try so hard to avoid stress, be it physical or emotional.
Get enough rest.
Life's problems cannot be solved in one day.
Do your best and leave the rest for God.

My name is Angel Blessing, I will always win.




PS : Took this picture before leaving for the bus stop.

03/10/2021

Sickle cell and Dating....
When it comes to relationships, there are ups and downs but for warriors, it's more than just ups and downs, you have the stigmatisation, there's this believe that sickle cell warriors do not have the right to speak about how they are being treated in a relationship, they are made to feel like they don't deserve better and so you see warriors end up in abusive relationships just because they are scared that they won't find love.
I remembered being told by a particular guy who approached me for a relationship that I can't be wealthier than him as a man and so I have to attribute my success and achievements to him if we eventually get married. That was the last time he heard from me.
A relationship based on terms and conditions is a no no for me. So I always tell warriors that no one has the right to make you feel inferior unless you allow them.

Most times, people say it's difficult for them to believe that am a warrior because no matter how sick I am, I always look good. They say I don't dress as a sickle cell warrior and I tell them that my life is not determined by the sickle cell gene in me but by how and what I choose to be.

We all know that dating for people living with the SCD can be challenging at times due to the health status but also very possible. We can still find true love but it starts with how you love and value yourself.
Never be ashamed of revealing your health status.

Don't go into a relationship where your partner feels like he/she is doing you a favour by dating you.

Never give room to abuse and violence. Leave when you notice any of these signs.

This are some qualities to look for in your partner as a sickle cell warrior.

1) They do research on their own about SCD and its treatments

2) They check in with you regularly out of genuine concern

3) they show interest in going to doctor’s appointments with you

4) you feel comfortable talking to them about your struggles

5) they comfort you during painful episodes

6) They remind you to keep drinking water

7) they are considerate of you when making plans.

8)They are considerate with regards to s*x and intimacy.

: Every person with SCD and every relationship is different. All healthy relationships face different obstacles. The best thing to do is to talk about SCD early and often. Set a high standard for yourself in terms of the level of compassion they show. And remember to also give them appreciation, love, and compromise

My name is Angel Blessing and I love myself..

24/09/2021

My name is Angel Blessing but they call me the Warrior queen. I am an ESL teacher, a sickle cell advocate and founder of HOPE FOR SICKLE CELL PATIENTS, I am a warrior not because I chose to but because of the countless battles I find myself fighting and the numerous victories I've had over these battles.

I decided to use my experience of the pains, complications and stigmatization to advocate for warriors and help create a better life for them and for the future generations.

Every day when I attend to warriors, i get a clearer vision of my existence here on earth.
I was born to give hope to the hopeless.
I was born to help make this world a better place.
I was born to help uphold the glorious destinies of others.
I was born to show forth the Glory of God here on earth.
And I am alive today because the destiny of many nations, rest on my shoulders.

Sickle cell is nothing but a stepping stone to make my dreams come true.
I want to encourage all warriors out there that there's nothing that cannot be achieved as long as you put your mind to it.

I was nominated by Dr. David Owoeye and I call on Fabby-abby Emmanuel , Dominique Warrick ,tecla, Miriam and Okunola Feyisetan Abiola to share their victory story with the sickle cell community.

My name is Angel Blessing and I am more than a conqueror.