₦airaland Forum

I may not know much about Sickle Cell Disease but I know enough to tell you that having the disease is a lifetime job. They tell you
-stay warm ,
-take your drugs
-don't stress yourself,
-avoid high altitudes,
-stay hydrated (@least 6L\day)
-avoid infections
-prevent Malaria
and then you have d guts and call me Lazy because I know my limit, you sure dunno what you're saying sir and ma

You dunno what it takes to be them and they didn't bring it upon themselves either.
The ignorance of a couple in love did it and they are bound to live with it for life.
So, love a sickle Cell warrior today.

I'm using this medium to encourage myself ,my warrior friends , my warrior patients and every wonderful caregiver. We see you❤️❤️
Keep Fighting Hard Flexed bicepsFlexed bicepsFlexed biceps
#sicklecellday
#SickleCellAwareness
#SickleCellDisease
#June19th
#WorldSickleCellDay
#knowyourgenotype

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay������������������������
Its WORLD SICKLE CELL DAY!
We celebrate all warriors around the world.
We are warriors!
We are strong!
We are brave!
We are winners!
We are made to harvest the best of the earth!
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#worldsicklecellday2020
#Iambecauseyouare
#ScdBill2020
#Notostigmatizationofwarriors
#goredforsicklecell
#wamirifoundation

Good morning Fam.
How was our night?
Please let's respond to d following questions . Please

*Question of the day*

��Have you ever been referred to as a sickler?
��Were you offended by it?
��How did you handle it?
��What's your take on the term "sickler"? Should people living with sickle cell be referred to as sicklers?
�If you're not a warrior, have you ever called someone a "sickler"? How did you think that made them feel?

Let's share our thoughts on this.

okpurukata:
Dear please drop your account details. I will be of a litte help

Good day sir..Since I Saw this message I've been trying to call Azeez all to no avail. Sent him texts too but no response. I sincerely hope he's doing fine. I'll let you know as soon as I can reach him

watchindelta:
sickle cell trait

Having the trait doesn't mean you have the disease.
What Is Sickle Cell Trait?
Sickle cell trait (SCT) is not a disease, but having it means that a person has
inherited the sickle cell gene from one of his or her parents. People with SCT
usually do not have any of the symptoms of sickle cell disease (SCD) and live a
normal life.

0What Is Sickle Cell Disease?
SCD is a genetic condition that is present at birth. In SCD, the red blood cells
become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a “sickle.” The
sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells. Also,
when they travel through small blood vessels, they get stuck and clog the blood
flow. This can cause pain and other serious problems. It is inherited when a child
receives two sickle cell genes—one from each parent.

Q:when would you say that you had license to make decisions yourself??
A;I gained my independence @17,, when I went to LAUTECH to start predegree. Prior to this, my parents were really over protective. Truth is my mum even went with me sef. She helped me buy d necessary stuffs,followed me for registration ,, she stayed for almost a week before she left for Lagos. Decisions I made ranged from what to eat to what to wear to other important matters. I have learned and unlearned things,I'm grateful for d journey thusfar.

Q:Did you have problems with ur self esteem?A:Concerning self esteem, I wouldn't say I had low self-esteem,, I just felt inadequate, felt below my peers in material things (this didn't bother me much though) plus I was limping badly then and I looked like a 12 year old.. so I pretty much kept to my self but as a sanguine my true self came out sooner than I expected in d hostel n I made friends.
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Q: what advice would u give to parents wo have warriors as kids?
A: Whether u let us discover ourselves or not, crises will occur noni.so why not allow us do the things we want, allow us play,do sporting activities etc. One advice u should give in these things is that they shouldn't push themselves too hard.. Don't depriveus of our childhood.
Teach them to be independent, explain the use of each drug they take ad give them a sense of responsibility. Give them tasks and let the take responsibility for it. Correct them when they make mistakes. Be a good Parent.

If u have any questions for me , please ask.
Enjoy ur day.
Peace ✌️✌️✌️

watchindelta:
what the difference between SCD vs SCT? I don test last year the doctor told me I have a SCT but I dnt sick!

Please whats do you mean by SCT? Stem cell transplant? Or what?

May we all find peace.

#staysafe

�����


Recommedations from *Psychologists*.

*1*. Isolate yourself from news about the virus. (Everything we need to know, we already know).

*2*. Don't look out for death toll. It's not a cricket or football match to know the latest score. Avoid that.

*3*. Don't look for additional information on the Internet, it would weaken your mental state.

*4*.Avoid sending fatalistic messages. Some people don't have the same mental strength as you have.

*5*. If possible, preoccupy yourself with something productive. Spend your time creatively and fruitfully learning something new. Take some time for meditation and prayer.

*6*. Your positive mood will help you to protect your immune system, the negative thoughts only weaken your immune system.

*7* . Maintain friendships that inspire and uplift you. Social distancing is not social isolation.

*8* . Look after your physical health - exercise, eat healthy meals

*9* . Stay happy, play music, dance, call friends, do quizzes, laugh more, limit daytime nap to 30 mins, manage your emotions in these times. Limit your consumption of news about Covid. Watch comedies instead.

*10* ..Most importantly, firmly believe that we will be safe that we will overcome this. Only a few wouldn't and that is the truth.. Stay very positive.
Don't panic.

*Stay positive...Stay safe.*

*“I do not consider isolation having to stay at home with who I love.*

*Isolation is what the seriously ill are experiencing.*

Stop saying that you are bored, upset that you can't leave the house; while everyone in the hospital wants to go home.

So, thank God if you have to stay at home, because despite everything, with money or without money,
with a job or without a job, you are in the best place you could be, at home, surrounded by who loves you!

*Perhaps it is time to transform your house into a wonderful place to stay, a place of peace and not of war, of embrace and not of distance.*

Anyway, look with different eyes at the situation you are experiencing !!

*Make your house a party:* Listen to music, sing, dance ...

*Make your house a temple:* Pray, pray, meditate, ask, thank, praise, plead ...

*Make your home a school:* Read, write, draw, paint, study, learn, teach ...

*Make your house a store:* Clean, order, organize, decorate, label, move, sell, donate ...

*Make your house a restaurant:* cook, eat, try, create recipes, grow spices, plant a garden ...

Anyway ...
make your house, your family, a place of love.".

....................... ..
Saw d above post somewhere and thought it would be beneficial to us all .

For me,
I've been watching too much TV;mostly cartoons coz my sisters kid won't let us watch anything other than Disney Junior so now I know PJ masks,TOTS, Elena of Avalon, Bluey, Vampirina to mention a few.
I've also been listening to songs. Taking my time to download Brymo's latest album and a few selected songs.
And then coming to movies, I've been watching a lot of .but then I came across one today which people have been saying it's making them cry up-and-down that is, very emotional (title- miracle in cell No.7).if u haven't seen it please do. It's highly recommended..


As per reading, I haven't even brought out d books I brought home from my bag..
So tomorrow I'll start reading the book my book club picked for April. The title is "The Alchemist"

I'm also doing mummy duties for my sister's baby whenever she goes to work( she's a nurse too and I'm at her place). .

I intend to add some praying time to my daily schedule.
I also want to search for some online courses to do .

May God help me.

What are you doing during this lockdown?

speed99:
Beautiful You. You are strong. At times when answers don't come readily, turn to God.
Respect. positive energy.

God keeps me going.. and I pray never to loose my positive vibes. No room for depression.
Thanks for responding boss ��

So I'm here listening to 9lives by Asa and I can't help but think maybe I've got more than one life. I've had numerous near death experiences and baby girl is still here, unshakable and strong and even crisis free .

I'm Grateful Lord.

Community clinical posting still ongoing (2 weeks left) and it's been great. I'm still learning and I'm getting better at being a Nurse.
Below is one of d pictures taken at one of d primary health care centers I've been in d past 4 weeks..

How are you doing today?
Have a great weekend...

One of the toughest questions I've been asked which I have no honest answer to:

"How frequent do you have crisis?"

Honestly, you want to know? Okay, how do I explain this? Which ones should I count as crisis bayi?� Do I count all what is regarded as crisis (VOC, hemolytic, sequestration, aplastic)? How do one even know those ones?

Or do I count the one that comes with pain (VOC) which everyone regard to as crisis? And how do I even count all those ones? Do I count for every time I feel pain and I had to take a break, or the ones that requires me popping some doses of analgesics in my room? Or is it those that take me to the pharmacy that should be regarded as crisis? Abi I should just count the ones that take me to the hospital? Or the ones that saw me being rehydrated with drips as an outpatient? Okay, I guess I will just count the ones that got me admitted in the hospital and lasted days?�

Honestly, this is one technical question I still find difficult to answer because I lose count of the ones technically refer as VOC and redefine my own crisis per time. It's one of the questions in my research questionnaire that I knew I may not get an honest answer to. Personally I won't even give an honest answer to it, because I don't know. I like to regard just the crisis that got me admitted, and sometimes the ones that got me injected at the hospital as crisis. I lose count of every other ones, as they don't really matter?

Medical practitioners, when you ask the question, how frequent is your crisis, or when was your last crisis, what answer do you expect? Which ones (crisis) are you referring to?

Warriors, how do you respond to the question(s)? Which episodes do you count as crisis?☹️

© FAM
...................................................................
Stay healthy and have a great week.
Peace ✌️✌️✌️

I really don't have much to say these days,some say I've been withdrawn,I dunno, maybe it's true. The past 12 days haven't been what I expected, mood swings all day, one crises, tests,exams, unexpected expenses plus my lacrimal glands have been very active.
I know I'll be fine.
Just want you all to stay strong while I get back on track.

Please send hugs my way.
God bless you

Peace ✌️✌️✌️

It's my Cake day today guys ������� And I'm using this medium to say thank you for reading and following.❤️


Say a word of prayer for me when you see this post.
Thank you very MUCH

Tonight let's talk about Leg ulcer another ugly complication of SCD.
.................................................................
LEG ULCERS
Leg ulcers in patients with SCD are often described as punched out wounds with raised edges, necrotic debris within the wound, and sloughing surrounding the ulcerated area. They commonly have a yellowish biofilm and a significant amount of exudate.they are usually situated slightly above the ankle joint.
CAUSES
The exact cause of leg ulcers in SCD patients is unknown, and the causative mechanism is thought to be multifactorial.
Etiologic factors include the sickling of red blood cells in blood vessels, causing vaso-occlusion and impairing oxygen delivery to tissues; as well as the binding of hemolysis-freed hemoglobin to nitric oxide, deactivating it and subsequently resulting in vasoconstriction.

The two major challenges in leg ulcer management in patients with SCD are the prolonged course to recovery and the high recurrence rate of healed or grafted ulcers. Both these challenges are due to the fact that the therapies used, whether local wound care or surgical interventions, do not modify the pathophysiologic factors that have led to the occurrence of the leg ulcers, and the same factors are therefore at play causing the healed or grafted skin to ulcerate.
Another significant challenge to proper care of leg ulcer in patients with SCD is the significant pain associated with these lesions. The constant pain associated with these lesions, as well as the intolerability of dressing changes, makes wound care difficult and decreases patient compliance with wound care regimens.

MANAGEMENT

Therapies currently used for the management of leg ulcers in patients with SCD revolve around
-overall disease control: stay hydrated, eat nutritious meals,use treated mosquito net, taking routine drugs as prescribed and trying not to get infected..
-wound care and dressings:Patients are encouraged to keep ulcers clean, with proper cleansing of the wounds using soap and water, or normal saline solution.
Some topical Antibacterials, anti-inflammatory and some antibiotics can be prescribed..
Compression socks are also used
-debridement:serves to cleanse the wound of its necrotic, senescent cells, inflammatory, and bacterial loads.
-surgical management with skin grafts or flaps.
-Blood transfusions have also been traditionally used to alleviate sickle cell symptoms, including chronic nonhealing leg wounds, based on the premise that higher hemoglobin levels and subsequent better oxygenation should lead to better healing.
-Zinc is believed to have a role in wound healing.

Note:sickle cell leg ulcers are severe chronic and recurrent . No permanent cure has been found.

Happy Sunday Fam.

This year marks the beginning of my final year in school and I'm pretty excited about it. I wouldn't bore you yet with the details of my remaining and upcoming professional exams this year ..
Wait o , did I remember to tell you that your Baby girl is now a Registered Nurse,, I think I did ..

The 31st of this beautiful month will also mark my 24th year on this planet.. Guys I won't lie to y'all, I feel one kain about d new age,,I feel like 24 is a big number and should I say I don't wanna grow old . .. I'm just scared about the whole thing jàre .
Please say something to allay my fears. What was 24 like for you? Where did you stand then and where do you stand now? Please share them with me.

I'm using this medium to promise you guys that I'm going to be more consistent with my post (at least 1post a week) this year. I dunno how I'm gonna do it but I trust God to help me go about it.

Wishing you a pleasant evening.

Peace ✌️✌️✌️✌️

(Don't forget to comment about the Age 24 thing ��)

Late Night Post.
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I'm back in Osogbo after the successful completion of the 6weeks midwifery posting in AMTH , ìbàdàn. The posting was an eye opener with regards to motherhood and the real life challenges that many families go through. And with what I've seen mothers go through in the labor room ,I don't think I have the heart and courage to birth a child natural (per vagina) so don't be surprised when you hear that I'll be opting for a ceasarian section.
I'm not saying this to scare y'all but a battle go on in that room. The battle a woman fights in ensuring she brings forth a life child with no abnormalities...

With regards to me ,I've had crisis for 3 consecutive nights since I got back which I find very unusual but I pass the blame on the stress of travelling back with all my bags and baggages..

Classes have also began and yeah, Final year feels good and I'm catching the vibes already..

Then a classmate pushed me out of a group pic simply because she doesn't want to snap with someone that doesn't have bumbum.. imagine,, how's that supposed to be my fault?as if I created myself... Yèyé somebori.

and catch the 1am sleep train.
Enjoy the rest of your week guys..

Peace ✌️✌️✌️

fairygeh:
The A lmighty God will have mercy on you.you shall have a pain free year by God's Grace

Amen o.. I pray the same prayer for all warriors all over the world.
Happy Sunday Fam.

@Thawarplay
Am also a warrior bro. Let's talk please chat me up. just want to know more about you ni o ,,m not selling you any drug o. Happy New year. I wish you a crisis free year ( I started d year with an episode already) na only God fit save us. I also have a thread here on NL. You'll find it in my profile.
Peace ✌️✌️✌️

So I spent the last few minutes of 2019 and the early hours of 2020 learning that Man proposes and God disposes.
@10:30pm yesterday I stood up to prepare for d crossover service and then it hit me .
Pains.
Crisis .
Oh God Not today I begged.
Within few minutes the pains spread from my knees , to my back, to my chest.. .
Without saying anything to anybody,I dragged myself n picked up the necessary drugs, swallowed them in one gulp and waited for it to begins taking its therapeutic effects .
Within me I was still hoping that by 11pm I'll be fine and I'll still be able to go to church.
But no, pain increased(pain scale of ,, but still assured everyone around that they could go ahead to church and that I'll meet them there soonest..

Then light came (phcn) , switched on TV, managed to smile through an episode of Henry Danger showing on Nickelodeon.

Still in pains ( pain scale of 5 now),I checked the time n it was 11:45pm , that's how I sha Did service with Pastor Adeboye by switching to �️ Dove television.

So in all my years of pain n crisis, it has never happened that I crossed over into the new year in pain, neither has it ever happened that I crossed over into the new year without my folks..

This isn't a Big deal right? I know but you know when you have everything planned out and something unexpected happens. It has made realize I can do nothing and to put All on God this new year.. I'm much better now and I'm grateful.

HAPPY New year Fam ��.
Cheers to a crisis free year ��
#Crisis
#SCD
#2020
#January1st

I am not a warrior, but I know nobody likes to be ignored no matter how little.

How to react or control how you feel is solely dependent on who has ignored you. How you would handle an ignoring spouse is different from how you'll handle a friend, sister, colleague, etc

Then the level of the "ignoring" did they really ignore you? Or you are the one feeling you were ignored? It needs to be defined clearly. Why? Some people have character issues without knowing. They feel everyone owe them greetings or respect when life is naturally not like that. Some other person might not just be in the mood you expect or assume them to be in as life deals with everyone accordingly. #nobody is completely free from life's blows... There's always a vacuum(but) in everyones life that's why everyone needs Jesus(HolySpirit)...He helps you to cope with peoples excesses.

Now I think everyone needs to know this...
NOBODY IS IMPORTANT TILL YOU MAKE THEM IMPORTANT.

Importance is like a neck chain you have, only you have the power to choose who you wear it on, and when you feel they no longer deserve it, you politely take it off their neck and keep it.

HOW TO HANDLE BEING IGNORED

1. Don't internalize it when it happens... Don't allow yourself think that they treat you that way because you are a warrior ❌

2. Talk about it with the person if you can, if not, then let it go, don't beat yourself over it.

3. Carriage... Carry yourself in such a way that is hard for someone to ignore you. Am not implying you become proud o please don't get me wrong. Just try to talk when you are suppose to, don't jump into peoples lives uninvited, don't jump on a discussion you are not called into or you don't fit into..

3. Don't invade peoples privacy... Many people don't like it. Either life, emotions, homes, social media etc

4. Be sensitive... Study people you have around you. Everybody have likes and dislikes, some people would naturally ignore people who talk too much, or play too much, etc

5. Don't treat yourself less... You deserve to be treated right, so is everyone. Treat people well too. Dress well even with the little you have, smell well, etc

6. Be presentable... That you are a warrior doesn't mean you have to look a certain way. Don't feel the whole world should pity you cos you are a warrior, no it doesn't work that way.

7. Push, aspire, dream and work towards achieving your dreams and goals... Nobody ignores success.. Work on yourself till you become what you desire. I know its not easy but you must not stop pushing.

8. � always celebrate yourself... Nobody will love you if you don't show them how... Always pause and give yourself a pat in the back and tell yourself you are the best there is on earth. Many people don't know how to love up on themselves self, so how do you expect someone else to try?

Let me stop here � I was just move to say a little and now I have said alot� don't mind me jare. But hope what I said made sense abit? I didn't really know the situation on ground so I just randomly wrote on stuffs I think can help. I hope it helps someone sha.

Merry Christmas everyone. May this season bring you so much Joy that no ignoring can quench �

Message from @ Sarcoella fabrics

Okay o.
So I'm in IB at the moment for the clinical posting I told you about in Adeoyo. It would be one week that I got here tomorrow and I'm grateful for life and for a painless week.
There have been challenges though. The first one being the stress I go through by using the staircase multiple times a day even though I try as much as possible to limit my movements. The second being the stress I go through carrying buckets of water up the stairs daily for use.and Yes I carry Small buckets but I still find the activity stressful. The third being the fact that I stay alongside some colleagues from school(2 of them) And I so much love my privacy so it's kind of an issue for me plus other underlying issues.
Those are the pressing challenges I'm having at the moment...
Ps :Azeez if you can see this post please chat me up coz I'll love to meet you while I'm here in ìbàdàn.
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And just in case you don't know guys, your humble girl right here Issa Bead maker and you can bet I'm so good at it( I'm not prouding o, na confam). You pipu should help me sell my market while am here .. call @abiola_onileke on 08143505458 for your exquisite beads.
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Thanks for reading.
Peace ✌️✌️✌️♡

MessangerOfTrut:
I saw a movie titled 5 feet apart on cystic fibrosis (the white man version of SCD) few weeks ago it shook my perspective about life, I got the same feeling going through this thread. I love the optimism here, keep it alive. Hopefully someday the government will pay special attention to those living with SCD, please drink a lot of water and stay healthy. Enjoy.

Hello . Thanks for visiting the page and I've made a mental note to check out that movie ..
We hope to see more of you here

Good afternoon .


I've had a bad day so far. It started off with me purging till day break and then I slipped and fell when I eventually had the courage to get outta bed. I got bruises on my toes and they're swollen and so painful . And the most painful aftermath of the fall is that my phone screen cracked up real bad and it's breaking my heart ..
Don't laugh at me o, if only you know the history behind the existence of the phone..and No,,, it's not an iPhone..

So I'm lying down here feeling very weak and bothered about how I'll pack my luggage.
Yeah it's another clinical posting and it's going to be at Ìbàdàn.. for 6 weeks o.

Lemme goan summon courage to start packing up. TTYL.

Peace ✌️✌️✌️

Hello friends.

I know I deserve all the tongue lashing I'm getting for keeping you waiting for a long time.
Ema binu simi ������. Somekept refreshing the page to see if there's a new post..
I also know that some were hoping and praying for me not to fall sick,,, your prayers kept me going .. while some took their time to call and chat me up,, kisses..

I'm so happy to have you guys,, you're awesome.

This is just to let you know that I'm back and better, and that y'all should look forward to new and exciting posts.

Peace ✌️✌️✌️

Good evening beautiful people.
I'm sorry for being absent. Exams won't let me be for the next few months ( you're darling girl will be a registered nurse in a little while,, y'all should pray for me) and I'm getting drained already because School exams starts on Monday and my first professional exam in November.

September is known to be the "sickle cell awareness month" and it has been a great one so far as many organisations and individuals are making it top priority to increase the awareness.( I hope you do so too)

It's the 19th day of September and this is what I've got for you. A fellow warrior wrote it.


Day #19 Sickle Cell Awareness:

* We will probably live half our lives in the hospital ��
* Be on drugs routine daily � to avoid been in and out of the hospital
* Drink water like fish �
* Try so hard to avoid drug dependency (addiction/abuse)
* Get swollen butt from frequent injection �
* Pain from canulars and getting pierced a thousand and one times just to get a vein for fluids and iv � (is like the thing is a set up, once there is a crisis boom vein yaf go on vacation) ☺
* The tears/shouts/screams from pain which gets to a 100% at nights.
* Been called customer dada (better customer) in your hospital.
* The emotional (Addiction, dependency, Mentally health e.g depression, anxiety disorder etc) Physical (AVN, DVT, blood transfusion, ACS, leg ulcer, organ failure etc) Social (Stigmatization, perceived as weak, pity) Financial (Managing SCD breaks the bank especially when there is no insurance) torture.
* Restrictions (swimming, not going to the theater because of AC, not getting married to just anyone unless they are AA, allowed to injest anything with iron in them "this differs"...
* How can I forget how family, friends and significant others who has deprived themselves of so many things just to be able to take care of us

* Chai, some of us have suffered in this love matter while some of us had it easy (Our AA brothers and sisters na we dey rush them �), so much dos and don't and the list is endless living with Sickle Cell Anemia.

The reason for this write is not to focus on this negativity we have to go through on a daily basis to stay alive but to remind us that a lot of us keep our focus on our loses (pain, death) and forget the things we should be grateful for in between all the hurdles. A lot of us were told we won't get to the age we are today but we still got through and are standing even stronger (Only Grace, no be by how much you take care of yourself o). Some of us has gained their wings which saddened a lot of us (as to be expected) but if we look deeper "Their deaths should be a trigger to create awareness everyday of our lives to as much people we can get across to.

It's Sickle cell awareness month, how many of you have talked sickle cell, genotype testing etc to someone... I know it can be difficult for some of us (talking about having sickle cell might make the world perceive us as weak) but sickle cell should not make you weak, we have doctors, nurses, actors, engineers, flight attendants, writers, pharmacist, lab attendants, business gurus etc to mention but few.

P.s: You can achieve anything you set your mind to and stop comparing yourself to another warrior (same diseases but we are affected differently). I challenge you tell someone today about genotype testing, no one deserves to be in this much pain

We are *WARRIORS* , We are *SURVIVORS*

*I* am *ME* and *YOU* are *YOU* before our cells.


Signed: Doris Peter ☺

Good morning everyone.
I'm really sorry for being MIA. I sincerely apologise.

*20 Inspiring Quotes to Reignite the Sickle Cell WARRIOR Inside of You.*

Whether you personally live with sickle-cell disease or you're a caregiver to someone who does, there's no doubt that it takes a lot of perseverance for you to push through the tough times.

To celebrate your warrior status, we're sharing some of our favorite quotes on overcoming, building courage, and having overall tenacity.

1. "Being a survivor doesn't mean being strong - it's telling people when you need a meal or a ride, company, whatever. It's paying attention to heart wisdom, feelings, not living a role, but having a unique, authentic life, having something to contribute, finding time to love and laugh. All these things are qualities of survivors." --Bernie Siegel

2. "You recognize a survivor when you see one. You recognize a fighter when you see one." --Elizabeth Edwards

3. "Life isn't perfect. When you get a knock, you have to get up, dust yourself down and get on with it." --Patsy Kensit

4. "What makes people resilient is the ability to find humour and irony in situations that would otherwise overpower you."--Amy Tan

5. "One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity." --Albert Schweitzer

6. "Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition - such as lifting weights - we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity." --Stephen Covey

7. "Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune." --William James

8. "When faced with a challenge, happy families, like happy people, just add a new chapter to their life story that shows them overcoming the hardship."--Bruce Feiler

9. "Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it." --Helen Keller

10. “If you are faced with a mountain, you have several options. You can climb it and cross to the other side. You can go around it. You can dig under it. You can fly over it. You can blow it up. You can ignore it and pretend it’s not there. You can turn around and go back the way you came. Or you can stay on the mountain and make it your home.” --Vera Nazarian

11. “The future will present insurmountable problems- only when we consider them insurmountable." --Thomas S. Monson

12. “Nobody looks good in their darkest hour. But it's those hours that make us what we are. We stand strong, or we cower. We emerge victorious, tempered by our trials, or fractured by a permanent damning fault line.” --Karen Marie Moning

13. “The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” --Molière

14. “Those who don't know how to suffer are the worst off. There are times when the only correct thing we can do is to bear out troubles until a better day.” --Deng Ming-Dao

15. “I am more than my scars.” --Andrew Davidson

16. “If you expect life to be easy, challenges will seem difficult. If you accept that challenges may occur, life will be easier.” --Rob Liano

17. “There is no chance, no fate, no destiny that can circumvent, or hinder, or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.” --Hyrum Smith

18. “Thriving. That's fighting... Surviving is barely getting by.” --Jillian Michaels

19. “Confidence, courage and determined spirit are vital for surviving hard times.” --Lailah Gifty Akita

20. “Armed with my positive attitude and inherent stubborn nature, I keep my mind focused and my life moving forward. I stop to rest, pout and even cry sometimes, but always, I get back up. Life is giving me this challenge and I will plow through it, out of breath with my heart racing if I have to.

.........................................................
So September is known as sickle cell awareness month and I want us to share our stories here. Let's create awareness in our own little way by telling people what SCD really entails, you'll be surprised about the rubbish people think they know about it.
The floor is officially opened, let's hear some of your experiences.

.............
To fellow warriors out there, make una no enter rain o. The rain here in Òsogbo Is something else these days. I didn't go to class yesterday coz of the rain , it started 8am and ended 1pm. The class was important but I couldn't risk my health for it.
And please o ,don't let us be doing big boy and girl and not wear cardigan when necessary...we will be doing ourselves by doing that.

I wish us all a crisis free month.

Peace ✌️✌️✌️✌️

Hello everyone. How are we?
To my brothers and sisters in Islam , ẹkú ọdún iléyá yìí. Èmí aa ṣe pupo ninu alaafia.

So I came across this interview of Greg.
Greg Emuze is the co-founder of Crimsonbow sickle cell initiative and he's a warrior in which I look up to.

Greg has a few words to say to fellow warriors and caregivers.

Please click on the link below

https://theworldnews.net/ng-news/i-couldn-t-go-to-school-of-my-choice-due-to-sickle-cell-disorder-grey-emuze


Enjoy your holiday..

ACUTE CHEST SYNDROME

Acute chest syndrome is a complication of sickle cell disease.Acute chest syndrome is a term used to cover conditions characterized by chest pain, cough, fever, hypoxia (low oxygen level) and lung infiltrates. Acute chest syndrome may be the result of sickling in the small blood vessels in the lungs causing a pulmonary infarction/emboli or viral or bacterial pneumonia.
It may develop as a single event, or during a painful vaso-occlusive crisis.

SYMPTOMS

Chest pain when breathing is the most common presenting complaint in adults.
Fever, cough, tachypnea (abnormally rapid breathing), hypoxemia (an unusually low concentration of oxygen in the blood), or abdominal pain are common presentations for infants and children.

It is always best to rule out infection in these cases and obtain appropriate blood cultures and serologic studies. There may or may not be radiographic evidence (X-ray) of pulmonary infiltrates at the initial time of symptoms.

TREATMENT
-Broad spectrum antibiotics to cover common infections such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and mycoplasma,
-Analgesic for pain control, and
-blood transfusion. Acute chest syndrome is an indication for exchange transfusion.
-Bronchodilators may be useful .

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I haven't really experienced acute chest syndrome in my adults years so far but I can remember having it in my childhood years. Though I wasn't diagnosed because my folks couldn't afford hospital bills but the nature of the pain in my chest and the difficulty in breathing accompanied with it makes me think that it must have been ACS.

I'm using this medium to encourage us to know our genotype before putting a ring on someone's finger. No one in his or her right senses should subject their child to a lifetime of sickness all in the name of love.

#ACS
#SCD
#WARRIOR
#KNOWYOURGENOTYPE

Enjoy the rest of your day �

Peace✌️✌️✌️

I know I can put down my ramblings and thoughts here without being judged.

The Hustle is real.

I really do not know why I'm writing this right now at this odd hour but whAT happened to me tonight made me realize that the hustle is more realistic or realest (if that English is correct) for SCD warriors. I haven't really been exposed to catering for my needs since I was young but now I'm in the university with #200 to manage before another alert comes in. Mind you I'm not an extravagant spender, I'm someone who's prudent in spending but the past few days has been hell..
I know what you're thinking, ... Why haven't my parents sent in an alert ?right ? Well, they're trying,, and besides I'm not the only daughter in school.
Truth is I Can't undergo any strenuous activities(I for don dey do labour for the building undergoing construction near my hostel) , my hip is clearly an obstacle And I'm not lazy either with regards to my craft (Beadmaking),,just that clients aren't even up to a handful.

Now I'm scared.
Scared for other scd patients with more complex complications that disallow mobilitY (fibromyalgia,myofibrosis,avascular necrosis ,stroke, paralysparalysis, etc)
How do you guys cope with making ends meet? Coz I understand not everyone of us has a caregiver.
Plus caregivers also get tired too.
I take this moment to pray for divine healing for each and everyone of all SCD patients.

By tomorrow morning I'll probably take thiS post down after I've sobered up but for the few people that will see this, I hope that you learn to be nice to people around you, you can never know what they're going through, wearing good clothes mean nothing when one is suffering.


BE NICE..

AN ACT OF KINDNESS WOULDN'T MAKE YOU LESS HUMAN.

I'm not making this post to get pity from you guys Or anything, just letting you guys know that
WE'RE NOT LAZY...
I KNOW scd patients who juggle 2 to 3 jobs just to survive, we do what we can.
.

.
.
. Never call us weak or lazy.
. Help whenever you can.
. If you can't help financially, do so emotionally or psychologically.

Have a great night. �

God bless you.

Good morning my people..
OMG, I really missed you guys a lot, a whole lot. It's been weeks of studying hard and I'm thankful for not breaking down in between. All that's left is for you to trust God with me for a great Result.
How have you all been?
Fellow warriors, shey alaafia ni?
Caregivers, shey we no too disturb u ?.

Today I just want to remind us on the importance of Hydration for warriors . I dunno if it's only me but I kind of find it difficult to maintain adequate water intake, even when I know It's good for me. Maybe it's coupled with the fact that everyone keeps talking about it (mumc most especially which I know that it's out of love).
God knows I try o. I really do.
At a point I had to download an app that reminds me to take water.. Yeah, it's that bad.

And there are Days I enjoy taking Water than eating , just that days like that are few.

So today I'm encouraging you and me to inculcate the habit of drinking water. Below are some of the reasons we should maintain adequate water intake.

HYDRATION & SCD WARRIORS

An insufficient amount of water in the body (dehydration) is one of the most common causes of a sickle cell crisis. In this situation the blood becomes thicker and sickled shaped red blood cells are more likely to stick together and cause a blockage in the blood circulation. Therefore it is important for an adult to drink at least 3 – 4 Litres of water daily; this is apart from the water contained in the food they eat.

The water can be in the form of plain water, diluted fruit squash, tea and other fluids. Alcoholic drinks should be avoided and if taken it should be consumed in very small quantities because alcohol increases dehydration and can lead to other complications.
By adulthood most people with sickle cell disease are aware of which drinks or food affect their health as an individual. For example, some people experience stomach upsets if they drink fizzy drinks whilst it has no effect on others who have a similar disease.
If for any reason a person with sickle cell disease is not able to drink normally, for example if they are vomiting, losing fluid because they are sweating excessively due to a fever or they have diarrhoea it is important that they seek medical attention urgently in order to find out the cause of the vomiting, fever or diarrhoea and treat any infection promptly.
Adequate � hydration helps To lessen occurrence of constipation .
Personally I noticed hydration help reduce the yellow discoloration of the sclera (jaundice) and the coke colored urine.
It helps the kidney to carry out its functions adequately.
It also helps To reduce Pain during vaso-occlusive crisis by reducing the thickness And stickiness of blood that has occluded the arteries ,thereby allowing the flow of blood.
. . .. . . . .. . ... . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .
Adequate hydration plus use of prescribed medications plus knowing what triggers your crisis Plus adequate nutrition(Balanced diet) will help us maintain a crisis-free period .
I'm encouraging us to always go everywhere with a bottle of Water in hand. Don't ever assume that water will be available there.

Stay Hydrated and enjoy the rest of the week.

Peace ✌ ✌ ✌