5 pain management strategies that benefit our family
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…
Sickle Unshackled — Sylvia Amuta
Sylvia Amuta, a physician with nearly a decade of experience and a master’s degree in public health, resides in Lagos, Nigeria. She is a carer for her sickle cell disease-afflicted young cousin. Sylvia is active in the public health community and is passionate about sickle cell disease awareness campaigns because she has family members with the condition. In her leisure time, she enjoys writing, cooking, and working out. She is thrilled to be a member of the Bionews community, this site’s publisher, and believes that her column, “Sickle Unshackled,” will help to gradually dispel any stigma associated with the condition.
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I’m learning to manage my anxiety as a sickle cell caregiver
Caregiving is a journey I hold close to my heart, especially as it involves my dear cousin Ada, a vibrant adolescent and a true warrior living with sickle cell disease. Yet I must…
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An essential truth about caregiving: It’s OK to take a break
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?…
How sickle cell awareness helps both patients and caregivers
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.
Preparing for a safe and fun school holiday with a sickle cell warrior
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…
What I’ve learned about dealing with caregiver guilt
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…
A new friendship provides support for my cousin with sickle cell
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…
Embracing a healthier diet to support my cousin with sickle cell
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…
I’m learning to embrace both natural and pharmaceutical medicine
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…
How I navigated a tough question as a sickle cell caregiver
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.
Caregiver tips for donating blood to a sickle cell warrior
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…
A letter to those who will be caring for someone who needs help
Dear Future Caregiver, As I look back on the transformative journey I’ve embraced as a caregiver to a person with sickle cell disease — its ups and downs, joys and frustrations, and…
