The scars I bear in this life are a testimony to uplift others, from the battles and war that I’ve won.
The question I’m often times asked is, “why do I feel free to share my story of late?” It is because when I do overcome in my testimony, I’m using it to HELP or BLESS others. Also, talking helps, (lol nuh baddi nuh private like me), with the journey.
Many may wonder why do I have such a “UNIQUE” title LOL! So said, so it is…This unique journey began at six (6) months old.
You may think that it started with basic “teething” signs, but what brought my mom to wonder about me was when I started having repeated episodes of diarrhoea with NO SMELL at all. That’s how it began, with my God and mom in the midst of course.
A “blessed” female I am, the story that follows will tell you why.
I’m a thirty-one (31) year old sickle cell disease (HBSS) patient who lives in Kingston, Jamaica. In my years of life, I have not experienced a lot of challenges or complications that come with this disease. I have not been hospitalized for a painful crisis since I was nine (9) year old (I was mainly hospitalized for tonsillitis).
For those who don’t know, sickle cell disease is genetic disorder where a part of the red blood cell is mutated (i.e. changed from it’s normal state). This leads to it forming a sickle or half moon shape in “stressful states” like cold, low oxygen or infection.
As a child I did however face many challenges socially. I was called names upon names. I tend to avoid people and always keep one or two close friends (until present) due to such mishaps. Growing up, I was a late bloomer but didn’t know so until I went to high school where I faced the most horrible challenges/bullying one could ever imagine.
I got questions like “Why yuh nuh hav nuh breast?” Slangs like “yuh mawga eeh” “har eye look yellow” followed by laughter or maybe even a crowd.
In life, a person can’t take back their words, so be very careful about how you spit them out and the scars that you can create with them. A joke for you may be death for someone.
Yes I felt horrible at times but His strength was perfect when all mine was gone. My God kept me from a lot and I would normally just learn to push through. My mom barred me from every activity in school even it’s was a concert lol.
I have vague fun memories while going to school. Nevertheless, being an absentee from school, I did excel and continue to, praise be to God!!
I know many here reading this today who may have Sickle Cell Disease may not be able to relate to anything I have said. Your frequent hospitalizations, crises, organ failure etc… but I do empathize with you even though I may not know what “pains or crises” you’ve been through.
Many times I’m asked what daily medications I am taking and I’m clueless. I can recall several doctors at the University of the West Indies, Sickle Department requesting me to be a guinea pig for testing’s etc. but I opted not. They’ve done over a million blood tests just to double-check if I am HBSS, at one point they found nothing, but yes I do have HBSS.
My recommendations to you would be to eat healthy and take your vitamins. Avoid all grease if possible, try using natural olive oil, substitute honey for sugar and avoid pastries and baked products etc. If I’m having a headache or so, I would normally just take a regular Panadol 500mg. They said that cold weather or water etc affects Sickle Cell but for me it doesn’t and I’m grateful for that.
Note that, it does affect your gall bladder, causing gallstones. I can advise you on such because I recently had an attack with such and I would not wish this pain on anyone.
Well, that’s it for now. Please keep safe you all and my greatest challenge to you is to know Jesus as your personal Savior. He fixes everything after.
-Signed An Anonymous Sickle Cell Disease Warrior
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