₦airaland Forum

The Bible asks “Can a man gather fire in his bosom and not be burned?”(Proverbs 6:27).
Also, can a man fetch ant-infested firewood and not expect lizards to visit his house?(Nigerian proverb).
A couple took a decision some 3 years ago that is now causing them and their children misery.
This is no tale or one of those fabricated stories; it is real. I will give a little simple background on the relevant biology and then present the problem. So read on…

When two people of opposite sex fall in love that is leading to marriage, one of the tests that are carried out these days, apart from HIV test, is genotype test. This is to know whether either one or both parties have a genetic makeup that would make it inadvisable for them to marry. Usually, the mind goes to sickle cell disease.

The normal genotype is “AA”, which is most common; the sickle cell disease genotype is “SS” and is rare. However, when the individual has the “AS” genotype, he (or she) is known as a “carrier” (you have the disease, but it does not disturb you at all).

I have not seen “SS” individual marrying another “SS” person because of the obvious consequences. However, when two “AS” people marry, they are in for a huge gamble with the genotypes of their children.

Let me not assume that everybody here has a basic grasp of Genetics. For those who do, this may appear redundant. In simple terms, assuming “AS” man marries “AS” woman, each time the woman is pregnant, the man donates either his “A” or “S” gene to the baby. The woman also donates either her “A” or “S” gene to the baby. Genes go as pairs to bring forth their effects.

If both donate their “A” genes, baby will be “AA” genotype, fine. But if the man donates his “A” gene and the woman donates her “S” gene, baby will be “AS” genotype, no cause for alarm. Same holds true if the man donates his “S” gene and the woman her “A” gene. However, if both man and woman donate their “S” gene, the baby will be “SS” or a sickler.

Why did I say “AS” vs “AS” couple is in for a huge gamble?
It is not known how nature does it and what factors favour the donation of a particular gene against the other. So it is a chance occurrence. At the time of conception, the potential combinations of the genes and genotype of the unborn child will be “AA”, “AS”,”AS”, “SS”.

That is, 1 out of 4 chances (or 25%) during each pregnancy, the baby is likely to be born with sickle cell disease. It’s like you have 3 good apples and 1 rotten apple in a bag and you are asked to close your eyes, dip in your hand once and pick one apple. Twenty-five percent appears small but the risk is there to happen that your first pick, your baby’s genotype, will be the rotten apple.
Of course, it is possible that all the children are normal, it is only by luck.

Now the problem:
This lady met and fell in love with her man. Fast forward to marriage plans and the necessary blood tests. Result came out and both were genotype “AS.” Both were educated and knew the implications of getting married. In no time, the lady got pregnant. First baby was “SS” genotype, second baby was also “SS” genotype. Measures are now in place to avoid any more pregnancy for obvious reasons.

Now the hospital has become their second home as the children go into crisis after crisis (being very sick with severe body pains, usually in the bones). Factor in days absent from work/school, loss of income, the emotions, etc and you will appreciate the magnitude of the problem.

My questions are:
Should a couple, both “AS” genotype, out of love for each other, ignore the almost certain/real possibility that they may beget “SS” children and go ahead and get married?

Is the love of “AS” couple for each other more important than the health and happiness of their children yet unborn?

Would it not have been better if the couple went their separate ways knowing that they were not destined to marry each other? Is love this blind?

Anybody who has seen a sickler knows that sickle cell disease is handful, a source of misery and a drain on the family income. The body system of sicklers is so picky about the quality of their air and environment. They cannot tolerate limited supply of oxygen like normal people do.

On a closing note, it is not wise to allow the heart to rule the head when the result of a blood test indicates that marriage is not advisable between two people. The marriage will be threatened by stress and regrets in the end. Let everybody beware.

Summary of this story o....

Most of the time, the love that brought the couple together doesn't sustain them in the face of sickle cell crises in their kids

duduade:
Summary of this story o....

It took me days to write and edit this post to make it brief as possible while not losing vital info.
The first paragraph should have spiked your curiosity, if you read it.

I have also used good spacing and paragraphs for ease of reading.
So what is the problem ...?
If you are looking for gossip posts with women in swimsuits and cleavages, sorry, I don't have it.

eyinjuege:
Most of the time, the love that brought the couple together doesn't sustain them in the face of sickle cell crises in their kids

Exactly...
The couple will start to blame each other...
" You pushed me into it.."
"No, it was your fault..., remember I told you we should quit?"
Bla, bla ...

Nyceguy92:
It took me days to write and edit this post to make it brief as possible while not losing vital info.
The first paragraph should have spiked your curiosity, if you read it.

I have also used good spacing and paragraphs for ease of reading.
So what is the problem ...?
If you are looking for gossip posts with women in swimsuits and cleavages, sorry, I don't have it.

What I am trying to tell you is that this is an overflogged issue..

I take God beg u summarize am 4me

Why are the young people of this generation feeling lazy to read.
Does it mean people don't read novels or story books again? No wonder Nigeria is producing half baked graduates.