Every 19th June is celebrated to create awareness on my son’s ….my daughter’s condition. The theme for this year’s celebration is Shine the light on Sickle cell with the use of hydroxyurea: stop stigmatization. My son my daughter: I have flexible round red blood cells (RBCs) which are able to move through my small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of my body so that I can live healthy and happily. However, I have recessive mutated gene including dad: Son Daughter, it was unfortunate you inherited this mutated gene leading to RBC disorders. This means I and my husband are Sickle Cell Trait (SCT), meaning we are AS. We were counseled not to marry since both of us are carriers (AS) but love overtook our thoughts to make informed decision so went ahead to marry. Here is the case Son/Daughter, you have inherited an abnormal shape of the RBCs which look like “sickle” or “crescent moon”. My son my daughter, I’m sorry to tell you this is the cause of your sufferings in terms of health. Kindly put the blame on me but I will love you forever and do everything possible to make you happy and healthy. My son’s……my daughter’s own is sickle cell anaemia (SS) which is the most common but other types include sickle cell haemoglobin (SC) and Sickle cell beta.
My son my daughter, because you have a C-shaped red blood cells (RBCs), your RBCs are rigid and sticky , hence they (RBCs) get stuck and clog the blood flow when they travel through the small blood vessels. This process does not allow oxygen supply to all parts of the body. This leads to pain crises especially chest pain, abdominal pain, joints pain and bones pain. This pain can last for a few hours to few weeks. My son my daughter, this explains why you experience so much pains to some extent that sometimes you need hospitalization. All these signs and symptoms start during the first year of life, usually 5months of age, and the signs and symptoms may vary from person to person.
Sonnnnnn ………..daughterrrrr, sometimes you feel very fatigue. This due to the short life span of your RBCs (10-20days instead of 120days) so there’s inadequate RBCs to supply adequate oxygen to your body. My son my daughter, sometimes you have swelling of the hands and feet (dactylitis). This is as a result of the sickle-shaped RBCs blocking blood flow to the hands and feet. My precious son my charming daughter often experiences vision problems, and produces coke-like urine. I also observed that there’s delayed growth of my precious son my charming daughter. Some children with SCD may have jaundice but my son my daughter does not have that.
When my son my daughter is dehydrated, stressed up, anaemic or exposed to extreme cold, the sickle cell crises start. For that matter, I always encourage my son my daughter to take adequate water such as 4-6 sachet water or 3bottles of 750mls water or 2bottles of 1.5L water. Additionally, I always feed my son my daughter with adequate nutritious meals of all green leafy vegetables and fruits. I do practice deep breathing exercises with my son my daughter to encourage circulation of oxygen nutrients in the blood to the parts of the body. I ensure my son my daughter rest and sleep a lot as well as dressing appropriately according to the weather. Last but not least, I provide warm baths for my son my daughter.
When my son my daughter has fever greater than 38 degrees Celsius, early signs and symptoms of stroke such as seizures, numbness, sudden speech difficulties, weakness of the arm and legs and loss of consciousness, I report immediately to the hospital for intervention. The secret to my child’s smile always is the use of Hydroxyurea which makes the RBCs stay rounder and more flexible by increasing the production of haemoglobin F ( Fetal haemoglobin). This helps to enhance adequate oxygen supply to the body.
People with sickle cell disease can get the following if attention is not given. One may have stroke, organ damage ( kidney, liver, spleen), blindness, leg ulcers, painful long-lasting erections (priapism), acute chest syndrome (chest pain, difficulty in breathing), pulmonary hypertension and others. It is therefore very necessary to seek for medical attention if you have SCD.
Credits;
3. Public Health Unit Virtual Awareness creation workshop on sickle cell disease; 18/06/2021, Korle-BU Teaching Hospital, Accra-Ghana.
Kwasi Omaro 