THE HIDDEN EPIDEMIC

I wouldn't say imagine but think rather of a person (not just a person but people) living with the possibility of experiencing a crisis at the slightest change in the weather or environment; people whose lifespan expectancy IS MEANT to be shorter by two to three decades than a human's lifespan, people whose life is a roller coaster of pains you don't even know exist, people who experience either the veno occlusive crisis, the aplastic crisis, the hyperhermolytic crisis, or the sequestration crisis

Or

A guy who wouldn't wish to be sexually active for the reason of getting a painful erection. Think also of a lady missing out on fun stuff to do for the fact she could get a dull or throbbing or stabbing, sharp pain that comes out of nowhere in the cause of just living like a human should. They survive basically on drugs. 

This set of persons or people rather are the sickle cell patients around us. Think of a lot of things such people would find difficult to get or do; almost everything, right? 

But what do you have to do when you realize or notice rather, someone around you who happens to be a sickle cell patient? 

*.* First and foremost, stigmatization shouldn't cross your mind. The blood cells/vessels are what are infected, not the skin, please. And in cases where a sickle cell patient has a skin infection, do well to get your skin protected of course but not in a way that would get such a person hurt. 

*.* Be knowledgeable about what such a person is dealing with. Do not just be knowledgeable but also understand fully well what you are getting knowledge about. Get information from a trusted source like the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA), National Institute of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) e.t.c.

Also, asking a sickle cell fighter some questions and listening to them (with no judgment of course 😏) could be a means of attaining knowledge. 

*.* Be a good friend by not just not stigmatizing sickle cell fighters but also keeping them company in times of crisis. While some could have their crisis for a short period, some could get theirs for a pretty long period. 

Helping with a soft massage with warm water in areas where the pain is felt could help or playing a not-so-strenous game to flexibize the arm. You could also hang out or take a stroll, and in times you're not able to visit a sickle cell fighter, a text or video call would be of help. These could go a long way not just physically but emotionally too.🫶

*.* Get into healthy stuff together. Water is the one thing that makes sickle cell fighters feel better. You could start a water competition if you notice a particular fighter doesn't drink a lot of water. You could also try talking them out of never getting into drugs or alcoholism. You could be "quite" extreme if need be.

And lastly, seek help if things get out of your hands. The severity and length of the crisis varies. While it could be calm sometimes, it could be severe some other time. Once you notice the situation is getting out of hand, do not think twice to save a person's life.🧏‍♀️

#sicklecellawareness

#spreadnothingbutlove

#youarehumanactit

#yourlifestylemywordsourinspiration