Doctor: Do you know Adekunle God.

Me. Yeah, I listen to his music.

Doctor: Do you like his music.

Me: Well, I'm indifferent.....

Doctor: okay....he has Sickle Cell too and he's doing well very well. achieving his dreams and excelling in his career.

Me: *mumbles quietly* nawa o

I mumbled because even though I knew the doctor was saying all this to motivate me. I didn't care that I had the same genetic disorder as a super star.

I mean he has millions of naira na. He's living well. He could afford the best doctors and treatment.

Have you seen his ThrowBack Jpegs.. Sickle Cell show am shege. but he pulled through

so, how does this information help me?

and as I sat there in the doctors office, my mind drifts far

I thought 'bout a lot of things. I doubted my own strength. and existence.

I wish sickle cell has more visibility and awareness to the public hence pacing way for more innovations, affordable treatment and cure.

Me: *inhales. exhales.* Sir I'm tired.

Doctor: Keep drinking water often..... we'll see you next Monday. *hands me a paper* Do these tests and bring it alongside.

So I walked in the lab, gave my papers to the man I found. He offered me a sit and asked me what was wrong. I looked at him and told him that I have SCD and I am just doing my regular tests.

Then he asked the most annoying question.

Lab Attendant: Since when?

In my mind I was like yooooo, did you skip that chapter in school? I politely told him since birth. then came a all lot of drama.

He looked at me and said "so you have had it since birth and it has been coming and going? But you are not even dressed like a sickle cell Patient. That's the problem with sicklers you don't take care of yourself and when you get sick, you start running up and down."

I felt so offended.

Firstly this man who doesn't know or perhaps forgot that SCD is inherited, now had something to say about sickle cell.

I had on two layers of shirts and denim jacket. For a fairly warm day I was putting on way to many clothes but this man in scrabs and white coat thought my three layers where too lite.

When I got home that evening I told my friend that I was tired of being a Patient. Much more a patient very miss understood and my Mind felt so much worser than my body was feeling.

SCD looks so manageable on paper try the experience.

Y'all see the little that we speak out.

You don't see the fatigue.

You do not see the bags of tablets we swallow every month.

You don't see the sleepless nights and night pains.

You do not see the pain of swallowing all the meds and supplements and herbs and still get the same test results as over and over again.

You don't see the pain of waking up every day not being able to do the tasks that you did yesterday, or last week.

Or walk like you walked yesterday.

Or have the same confidence in the skills you are so good at because your body and mind are constantly changing faster than you can handle.

We appreciate your opinions and advice and everything just don't make me feel like I am not doing anything And you know you better. And what ever you do please, don't Call me A SICKLER.