Sicklecellwarrior

Students will always be students.

Happy Birthday to our fyb personality of the day, Egboka Goodness Chukwuzurum.

Known as Goodie, she is the perfect blend of calm gentle spirit and a hilariously blunt wit.

Whether she's keeping it real with her love for "Sleeping and  Eating" or playfully supporting we "drop out" before it's too late, her presence brings a much needed lightheartedness to the department.

Goodie may your 13th April birthday be as peaceful and lovely as you are.
Cheers to the future Odogwu wife









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We're on a fruitful journey.
It's smiles all the way.
We're not gonna stop.
It's another month to celebrate our VICTORY in caps

There’s one type of crisis most people don’t know about, Aplastic Crisis.
It’s not the usual painful one, and that’s what makes it tricky.
You just wake up one day feeling extremely weak.
Like no matter how much you rest, your body still feels heavy.
You get tired after walking a few steps, your heart beats faster than normal, and sometimes you feel dizzy or even faint.
No pain… but something just feels off.
That’s what an Aplastic Crisis can look like.
So what really happens?
Normally, our bone marrow keeps producing new red blood cells to replace the ones that die off.
But during an aplastic crisis, that production suddenly stops, completely.
And because sickle cell red cells already don’t live long, our blood count drops fast.
That’s why you can go from feeling okay to being severely anemic in just a few days.
The most common cause is a virus called Parvovirus B19, it’s actually the same virus that causes “slapped cheek” rash in kids.
It spreads easily through cough, sneezing, or close contact.
So sometimes, you just catch what feels like an ordinary flu… but for a Warrior, it can turn serious.

If you ever notice that unusual tiredness, pale lips or eyes, fast heartbeat, or you just feel like your energy is gone, please don’t ignore it.
It’s not “ordinary weakness.”
Go to the hospital and get your blood checked.
You might need a transfusion, and once your bone marrow recovers, you’ll start feeling better again.
Aplastic crisis may not come with pain, but it reminds us that not all sickle cell crises are about pain.

Have you ever experienced an aplastic crisis or seen someone go through it?
Share your experience in the comments, let’s educate others together.
Not every crisis comes with pain, and someone might learn from your story.

And please, share this post so more people can learn about this silent crisis. Awareness saves lives.

You can save a life by donating blood to warriors in your local health facility.Thanks for doing this.

Anaemia: The Silent Killer in Sickle Cell Disease

Over the last few years, I’ve dedicated my life to writing about warriors rejecting blood transfusion in Nigeria. I know it’s a sensitive topic, but one we must confront with honesty.

Blood transfusion is not the first line of treatment in Nigeria. In fact, most warriors have already tried “boosting blood at home” before ever getting to the hospital.

But every day, we lose warriors to anaemia These are deaths that the right blood transfusion, at the right time, could have prevented.

Why Anaemia is Deadly in Sickle Cell

* Sickle cells live only 10–21 days, far shorter than normal red blood cells.
* This means most warriors live with naturally lower PCV (Packed Cell Volume)
* Each person has a Stable PCV (baseline PCV) unique to them, which doctors use to guide care.

If your stable PCV is 28%, and your hospital test shows 20%, you’re already in dangerous territory. A drop of just 3 -5% below your baseline can mean a blood transfusion is needed.

What Doctors Look For Beyond Numbers

PCV is not the only deciding factor. Symptoms matter:

* Weakness & fatigue
* Paleness
* Palpitations (fast heartbeats)
* Fever
* Loss of appetite
* Severe dehydration or crisis

When a child is too weak to eat or drink, anaemia is already severe. At that point, boosting blood with vegetables or milk will not save them because the body cannot process it anymore.

The Harsh Truth

Anaemia is the number one killer in sickle cell disease.

* Pain crises are loud, but anaemia is silent until organs start shutting down.
* The body prioritizes sending blood to the heart and brain, while other organs quietly fail.
* By the time cardiac arrest or brain shut-down happens, even a blood transfusion may come too late.

Why Rejecting Blood is Dangerous

* Some warriors lie about their stable PCV just to avoid transfusion.
* Others proudly say, “My PCV was 18% and I didn’t take blood,” then advise others to reject transfusion without knowing their baseline or how severe their case was.
* In just the last 7 days, we lost 3 warriors to anaemia 😭😭😭

The Right Time to Boost Blood

* Boosting/building blood is for everyday management , not emergencies.
* The time to eat well, hydrate, and build blood is before anaemia sets in, not when you are already weak.
* When the doctor says blood transfusion is needed, it’s not a punishment, it’s a lifesaving intervention. Even if it is one pint, get it before going to boost

I know some fear “too many transfusions.” Yes, long-term risks exist. But in that emergency moment, saving life comes first. Your hematologist will guide you on managing frequency.

Please , don’t gamble with anaemia.
Check your PCV regularly.
Know your stable PCV.
Don’t wait until weakness turns deadly.

Because every time we delay, we risk another warrior’s life.

Source: from a Warrior Kemi Oguntimehin.