Blog - June 22, 2016
The Unsilent Killer…
“Let me die, mum., I’m going to be fine over there…”
Bimpe Ali looked down at her daughter , in all her twenty one years of existence, sprawled on the bed , looking all sunken and ill, and wiped a lone tear.
She had consciously told herself many times that she had to stop with the tears, they were only making Ademide so frightened and worsening her pain. The pain that she was going through by the minute, the inexpiable one, the one she, or the numerous doctors that had been hovering over her for days, could do nothing to take away. The pain, she, Adebimpe, might have avoided many years ago.
Marrying Timeyin was very well planned out, she took her time before allowing any man into her life. It seemed like a very impossible thing for anyone in the world of today, to marry their first love or end up with the very first man they ever had a relationship with, but that was how it happened between herself and Timeyin. They took their time to become friends, fall in love and grow together in wedlock. Their love story was that which everybody wanted to have, it did not only look real and true, it was actually that way with no pretense.
Their three children came in closely after one another. First was Arisekola, the ever bubbly boy who was steadily growing into a handsome young man. Two years after, Ademide came with the most beautiful set of eyes ever. Everyone said she looked like Timeyin but Bimpe liked to tell herself the genes were from her.Adunola came a year after Ademide ,not deliberately but then she couldn’t have aborted the pregnancy when it came, could she?
Finding out Ademide was a sickle cell carrier came as a shock. How? Growing up, Bimpe’s mother had told her she was AA, so when Timeyin told her of his Genotype being AS when they met, there was no obvious problem with their intending union, after all, from what she had learnt, the perfect match for a person with the AS Genotype was AA. There was no reason to double check too, her mother couldn’t have lied, she felt.
After finding out what Ademide’s Genotype was, she had to check the other children’s and that was where she knew Adunola was a carrier too. Only Arisekola narrowly escaped by being AS. Apparently, what her mum said was not true, her Genotype was actually AS and she made the mistake of not checking to be doubly sure.
Then began the nightmare, the series of hospital visits, the midnight screams, caring for two children who intermittently or simultaneously had their crisis. One took it when the other was recovering or they both had it at the same time. No name could describe the nagging fear that came with each crisis, the fear of losing any or both of her beautiful girls. Timeyin had become a shadow of himself , he had had to cancel trips many times than one to tend to the children or stay with them at the hospital. The once very beautiful love story was waning and there was nothing they could do about it.
Ademide wanted to die. She just wanted to leave… forever!
It wasn’t just about the physical pain (of course that was a whole lot), but the psychological pain she had to go through ever since she had known what pain felt like. Her family were very kind and showed her all the love any normal child would want. but no, she wasn’t normal, she was far from normal and she wanted only one thing. To leave!
Her decision to leave forever was made when she realized she had started to detest her parents . They didn’t deserve her hate , looking at how well they cared for her and didn’t let her lack any material thing. The only thing they made her lack was Peace. She didn’t have any peace, all she knew was pain. Hence, it was no wonder she found the hate for them slowly creeping in. It grew in depth whenever she thought about the fact that it could have been avoided,this pain she was feeling, that is.
Why did she have to be the one to suffer for their recklessness? why did it have to be her? Her friends could swim, she could only watch because she had been warned to avoid activities like that. She could not even attend night classes in school without catching a cold or its likes. no, She was not a normal child. She just wasn’t.
Her mother said she understood her pain. Said she knew how she felt, but HOW? She wasn’t the one who carried the cells, she wasn’t the one who always felt like the odd person out of a group of healthy children. She wasn’t the one who started every day with the fear of having a crisis before the end of the day. She wasn’t the one who had to wish death on herself whenever the pain started. The one who wanted to leave forever and never come back, at least not to her parents who made her go through this.
She hated them. Hated them so much. And she just wanted to die!
Each lost in her own thoughts, one enjoying the little moment when the pain went away, they both started to drift to sleep, until the sound of Bimpe’s phone jolted them back.
“Hello mummy” Arisekola sounded so frightened on the other end
“What is wrong”?
“It’s Adun. Adunola. Mummy she has stopped breathing ”
Bimpe stared blank into space and fell into unconsciousness.
Featured Image: africanhadithi.com
OJ
touching story but I I’m still wondering how a AA – AS couple gave birth to SS kids?
omotolaniee
The regular mistake people make by not double checking what their folks told them
Adetunji
Hmmmm what happen next?don’t tell me Adunola ddnt make it!but then ddnt Bimpe did medicals back in sch to confirm her mum’s claim?its well with them.
omotolaniee
Hmnnn. I deliberately left that to the imagination. About the medicals, some people don’t see a reason to ever check o. They only rely on what their parents tell them
Ahmed
Pheeeww.. Tolani.. May Almighty Allah keep your knowledge..
Great piece.. But too much sadness in one post. Couldn’t stomach it all. Welcome to reality as this stuff has wrecked/damaged so many homes. We all can stop this by knowing our genotype(s).
omotolaniee
Aaamin. thank you Ahmed. I really hope many people will be more aware of how serious this issue is
Bukkiebay
You are going places Omotolani. This cannot be your first dearie, it is too good to be. So if it truly is, you are starting out as a pro. It is so real and touching. Thanks for dealing with such a sensitive topic, I hope a lot if people will learn from this…especially the need to double check their genotype.
omotolaniee
Thank you Bukola, you are amazing and I’m glad you are my friend
Ajibola
The best way to avoid this painful scenario is not to allow emotions or love becloud reality. It is in this wise that we also dnt need to base our genotype status on assumption but confirmation and reconfirmation to avert this seemingly problem.
omotolaniee
Exactly. Very important to be doubly sure before we even embark on any thing. May we be guided
Caramel
Great piece!
You’re passionate about this Sickle cell issue and your passion shows in every word of this lovely writeup.
Write another one pretty soon.
MAY God continue to increase your knowledge.
Amin
omotolaniee
Thanks Halima. Yes, I really am. I think a lot of people need more awareness about this avoidable issue. Thanks again b. amin and you too
@laptopmechanic
Very disheartening walahi… this is what is happening around us. .. this issue of genotype is what made me advise my junior brother to call his 2years relationship off.. I still feel bad I made him do it but on the long run, I know Its the right thing to do.. thanks for this “isiti”… God bless you motolani
omotolaniee
Amin. Thank you. i know he must have been really sad but you know, that was a very wise decision.
Onyanta
Story line was good. Perfect use of words and I like how it was able to keep my mind busy. More grease to your elbow. This was a good one
omotolaniee
Thank you. I’m glad i was able to do that.
moleyeann
This gave me goosebumps. Quite sad But in all, its a beautiful piece.
omotolaniee
I can relate . Sigh. Thank you dear
The Curly Belle
Subhanallah I’m in shock ooo.. I hope she doesn’t die.
But honestly wallahi she should have checked. They could have gone to the hospital again in this age and time.
Chai 🙆🏾 when is the next one coming out?
omotolaniee
I don’t think I want to write a sequel. I just want to leave the concluding part to the imagination. It’s either ways, Live or die 🙁
The Curly Belle
Ya wicked o
Sola
Good story line, great timing. You must sha complete the story.
omotolaniee
Lol Sola thanks. I won’t write more. Can’t b ear it
Khadeejah
“The only thing they made her lack was peace” that got to me,considering I lost a dear friend to this and how much he struggled through out his life. Rip
It’s a beautiful story,the thought of creating more awareness makes this drop-dead. Double checking won’t ache anyone instead it’ll help in making the right decisions for the life ahead of us. Well done 👏🏻
omotolaniee
I totally understand . I’ve seen people around me go through this pain and it isn’t what I’d wish on even an enemy. thank you for reading
Ifeoluwa
I think this is one story everyone should read. Alot of people are ignorant about their genotype even some that are literate and in the medical line still think this is something they can walk around.
I know a few people that are cariers and I don’t know how they really feel I just see their pain, that alone is not something I wish on anybody. So I think proper awareness about this is important, we shouldn’t bring people into this world for pain only to satisfy our own selfish reason (love).
That said, it was a beautiful write-up, was glued till the end. As always good job👍👍
omotolaniee
Thank you Ife. The pain the carriers go through cannot be qualified. so sad
Sa'eedah Imam
Happy birthday to the child that was born to die. Your wits too wont kill me Zhul
omotolaniee
Child that was born to die. Hmnnn. Thanks Oyinbo
Lilian Onuoha
Nice piece T, keep it up. Sometimes people get carried away with the love thoughts and neglect reality. Genotype test should never be ignored as it saves everyone from eternal pain and regrets.
Keep bringing it on dear, May God guide you always.
omotolaniee
Yaay thanks Lilian. I wish everyone would understand this more and save themselves the pain.
abbas
Captivating. I didn’t expect less tho.
omotolaniee
Thanks Abbass
Bunmi
While I was nearing the end, I thought to myself ‘Tolani had better make this into episodes. Keep the suspense heightening, bring out what some might think they can manage or avoid by magic or sheer luck and then kill the hero/heroine as the world of carriers isn’t always a happy ending’. Then, I found out ‘This is the end’ #InAdele’sVoice.
Please 👏🏽😫🙃😩😥☹️
Please
Please
Please
Please
Please
Please
Please
Please
Please
Please continue.
I’ve never had a personal feel of what it might be like. To hear the thoughts in the mind of the carriers and the ones in the heads of their carer. You’ve done a wonderful job once again and this is beautiful.
omotolaniee
Thanks Bunmi. Lol e jor emabinu, I don’t know what to write again. I just wanted to pass a message which I hope I did
Bunmi
You sure did dear 👏🏽❤️.
MrJayCouture
Beautiful piece, Zulikha. A touching story I must say.
I wish everyone out there can be reached and always be reminded about this avoidable menace.
Thank you OmoTolani
omotolaniee
You are welcome Jay!
mercurialpinky
And you didn’t share me this link 😑 . I was captivated from start to end, nice one dearie
Toyin
A good read, it’s unsettling that some people are still ignorant of this, or care less. You’re doing a good job 👍