Narrating how it all started, Aderinsola who has a sickle cell trait otherwise known as  sickler said “It all started when I had swollen legs and  I was diagnosed of having sickle cell anaemia when I was a year and a half. Ever since, it has been one crisis or the other. It got worst in 2005 when I had another crisis and it’s more or less as if I’m lifeless, 3 days after I discovered I couldn’t see again as you can see i can no longer see.

“So due to the blood tonic that was given to me then, I lost my sight for a whole year. That was in 2005. The sores and wounds on my leg now it was discovered was as a result of complications of those having sickle cell trait, I’ve been to several hospitals but no cure, rather it’s getting worse Though I was introduced to a doctor but unfortunately the doctor is no longer in the country.

“Then he said the wounds in my body was as a result of some sorts in my blood stream and that I have a swollen vein that was withdrawing pores and ever since some doctors couldn’t diagnose what is exactly wrong. They are just prescribing medicine  to treat the wounds. But as you can see it is just getting worse No foundation has raised any fund for me, but my family has been of help, they been assisting in getting money to care for me this far especially my mother. But these family members also have their own family to cater for, the treatment is so overwhelming they they couldn’t find it any longer.

Presently I couldn’t do anything again on my own. This is my 5th year of pains and unending grief, she lamented and she want Nigerians to come to her aid. Speaking with Aderinsola’s mum, who is a retiree, Mrs. Comfort Odebunmi she said “I gave birth to her 35 years ago and when I got married  to my husband I never knew anything about SS or AS until when she was a year and a half when she developed swollen legs and I took her to the hospital that was when I got to know that she has sickle cell trait.

“I and her father have been managing the crisis ever since but unfortunately the father died 23 years ago (weeps) and I was left alone to bear the burden. We have spent 4months in Ogun State University Teaching Hospital (OSUTH) after which she lost her sight and she couldn’t walk and when the doctors couldn’t do anything again we were discharged from the hospital. Aderinsola is my last born but she has suffered a lot  because she was a sickler, I’ve tried traditional medicine  as well all to no avail.

I’ve spent all that I have and today I have nothing I’m appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to support us She need a sum  of N6 Million to undergo hip replacement’. Mrs Odebunmi is urging intending couple to go the blood test and know their blood group before they get married ‘and if they have sickle cell trait in their blood I advice them not to get married’, she warned.