Sickle Cell Anaemia.

A wake up call against Sickle Cell Anaemia.

I remember I was much younger, probably about 10, no 11, I think either of them, when Aunty Munachisom got engaged to Brother Felix.
Aunty Manuchisom had quite come of age maybe in her mid 30s and Felix just about few months older, the engagement was quite unique because they were both strong practicing Catholics and engine members of the catholic charismatic renewal.
Everything seemed alright as they were so many praying and fasting and any pious member of my local parish will definitely agree that the marriage was sanctioned from Virgin Mary and her dearly beloved son directly.

Something happened which was very dramatic, just two weeks to their wedding, a friend suggested they go for blood test of which they reluctantly agreed and it was revealed that their Genotypes were both AS. In strict medical terms, an AS that brings forth a child with another AS has 50 percent chances of bringing forth a child with sickle cell anemia.

Persistent advice came in from all corners, people talking to them both on how the marriage should be called off and on how cruel it would be for them to bring forth children with such potent risks staring into their faces but Munachisom and Felix were so sure God had sanctioned this wedding from on high especially as other devout members preached 'the God can do all things' sermon .

It's more than a decade ago and I just stumbled upon Felix's youngest brother, Chidalu, a good footballer I remember playing with in Pepsi Academy Abuja. Chidalu had just narrated how Munachisom and Felix's 4 year old kosisochukwu has been battling sickle cell anemia in the US. Aunty Munachisom had won a US visa diversity lottery  which she emigrated with her family some years after we left that neighbourhood. Kosisochukwu is said to need a bone marrow transplant which is the best attempt to saving her life.

I have no background in pharmacology but I think sickle cell anemia has no cure (yet) and the best cure now is prevention, prevention by not marrying that (wo)man you think you are too in love with, because it will be really selfish and dangerous to go on with such marriage when you know your union is predisposed to bringing sickle cell child(ren).

Until we find the cure to sickle cell I think such dangerous and selfish decisions are evil and God will never sanction marriage between people at risk of having sickle cell children (at least not now that there is no cure)
As for me I seriously hold the opinion that couples prone to having sickle cell child(ren) be charged for endangering the life of a tomorrow person. I will always advice youths to ask people they plan on going into a relationship with for their blood group and/or Genotype.

Thank you.

~Ikeorah.