Caring for my young cousin Ada, who battles sickle cell disease, has taught me so much about the ways in which chronic pain can wear down even the strongest of spirits. Each pain crisis feels like a wave crashing over her, relentless and unforgiving. With every failed attempt…
If you’re a caregiver, do you ever feel like you always need to be strong? That you should be able to withstand everything life throws your way because someone else is depending on you? We caregivers have a tendency to put our emotions aside or bottle them up and wear…
Dealing with sickle cell disease poses unique challenges that affect not only patients but also their loved ones and caregivers. It is crucial to communicate fully about the disease with those around us. As the primary caregiver for my adolescent cousin Ada, who has sickle cell disease and…
As the school holidays approach here in Nigeria, the excitement in my household is palpable. My kids, along with my cousin Ada, who lives with sickle cell disease, are eagerly looking forward to the break. The holidays promise longer sleep hours, extended screen time, and endless play under the…
As caregivers, we often find ourselves riding a roller coaster of emotions, with each twist and turn bringing forth a new wave of feelings. Caring for a loved one with chronic illness can involve moments of joy and relief, as well as bouts of sadness and guilt. In my journey…
When Ada, my cousin with sickle cell disease, came home from school one day filled with excitement, I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened. She shared that she’d made a new friend in her class and that they’d become quite close. My attention was piqued when Ada, whom…
New Year’s resolutions were never really my thing. In the past, my attempts often fizzled out quickly — like the gym membership that gathered dust by February. To avoid disappointment, I swapped out strict goals for a list of hopeful, more gentle aspirations. This year, topping that list was a…
My mother-in-law is a firm believer in nature’s medications. Her faith in the healing power of plants stems from the lush soils of her Nigerian town, where she grows her food and medicine. Her way of living reflects her ideals, with the majority of her food coming straight from her…
The other day, my cousin Ada asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks. I’d known that she had some idea, maybe something like an overview, about her sickle cell illness. When she started living with me, she was a smart-mouthed 8-year-old, and now she’s approaching her…
As I sat in the sterile, fluorescent-lit room, a sense of determination and apprehension coursed through me. I wasn’t here for myself; I was here to donate blood for my little cousin, Ada, who was bravely battling sickle cell disease. The journey of being a caregiver for someone with…
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