WSCD 2016 Fundraising

There are very few days in the year that has been set aside to highlight the importance of awareness and education of the blood disorder known as Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). World Sickle Cell Day (WSCD) is one of those very special day, as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2008 and first celebrated on June 19th 2009. According to research, SCD is one of the main causes of premature death amongst children under the age of five in various African countries, Nigeria being the only country with the most cases of Sickle Cell Disease. WHO declared SCD a public health issue that needed much attention, so this day was set apart as the day out of the whole year where awareness and public knowledge is pushed. It is a day celebrated around the world, to spread awareness and educate the public about the disease, managing techniques. This year, several sickle cell providers and organizations have several events lined up to further spread the awareness for the disease.

In the past year or so, I have been in touch with few NGOs in Nigeria just to feel them out and see how my vision and passion for the cause will fit in with theirs and Nigeria as a whole. On my recent visit to Nigeria, I linked up with couple of them ; I did couple clinic sessions where I got to talk/educate and meet few members of these NGOs. I met little kids as well as adults living with sickle cell, I got to meet few parents and caretakers of some of these people, as well as medical persons who volunteer their time and knowledge (paid and unpaid) to help tend to the many people who turnout to these monthly clinic sessions. I enjoyed every minute of it and left Nigeria inspired, which leads me to this post.

This year’s World Sickle Cell Day, only few more days away, I am taking a step further by initiating a campaign to support sickle cell outreach. It’s not news that the Nigerian healthcare is lacking, more so for those with sickle cell disease. My campaign is to those living with scd, who cannot afford basic treatment, to be able to get medications and treatment supplies for free. A GoFundMe account  has been initiated to raise money for these needs, feel free to donate any amount (in any currency, if you want to donate Naira please let me know and we can setup a way for you to contribute). and remember to share with your friends and families.

June 8th will be ideal for deadline, to make sure everything is ready for WSCD week. Yes, that is literally a week to fundraise a sum amount of $5,000, but I’m totally counting on you. I hope you will join me on this campaign and share with others to as well.

Also, there is Red Umbrella Walk on June 11th, to celebrate SCD and spread awareness, check it out, sign up and come out to support if you are able. I would love to meet/see so many of you.

 

Till Next Post, Ciao!

 

SCD Post: Traveling

If you know me a bit, you will know my love to travel, and will jump at any opportunity to “ajala” granted I have money (LOL). It’s true. Although I haven’t done much travel in years because of school/work, but I am slowly trying to get back into struting my (tiny) long legs around the place. But through my few experiences with travel, both near and far, I have learned some tricks to traveling that has made my experiences more comfortable and has made me enjoyed taking trips.

This post is dedicated to the process of packing for your flight, I have tricks to for the different trips I take; the car trip versus plane trips, versus the short trips to the long trips. Ultimately, the goal is to be as comfortable as possible, and as pain-free as imaginable.

Because you can almost anticipate a cold atmosphere during the duration of your flight, the first thing that you need to pack is a blanket/throw … planes can get cold and it is almost unavoidable sometimes. Second thing that needs to go into your carryon bag are socks! I don’t care where your destination is, as long as you are travelling by air, you will need socks during your flight. And this is where I suggest a comfortable socks like a double layered socks  like this . I swear by that socks, to the point where I have plenty back-ups and gift them out during winter. Peep that sale!! I have never bought them that low so you know I will be stocking up real quick.

Third thing to pack are medicines,  your narcs are your bff literally. God forbids you go into some kind of pain crisis inflight, YOU do not want to end up in a strange place due to emergency landing for a situation you could have controlled to some extent. I was on a long flight to Dubai recently and had what I think was food poisoning that ended up triggering a small pain crisis. I was in such excruciating pain where there was not enough rooms to begin with… needless to say I threw all care in the world out the window and was rolling (literally) on the floor of the back of the plane in so much pain .. next to the damn lavatory. Yes y’all, I forgot about being a fine girl and did not realise when I yanked my hair off and walked barefoot on that dirty floors – I am not one to walk barefoot inside my own house to begin with, so imagine the horror. Don’t be like me, who forgot her socks is all I’m saying. But throughout that whole experience, the one thing I was thankful for beside the amazing Emirates crew was the fact that I had my medicines! It would/could have been worse, and would have landed me in a strange country  on the count of medical emergency, because the air crew told me they would descend as it seemed like the pain was not getting better and my BP kept rising. My medicine gave me some control, I was able to control the pain eventually. That is another story for another day… I may do a #tbt post on that, I have video of me in Dubai Airport hospital, getting a medical clearance lol.

So far, you need a blanket, the ones on the plane aren’t always warm enough and you may find yourself requesting for 3-4 blankets, you do not want to be that one person on board hoarding the blankets, so bring one that’ll keep you warm from home. Bring your (double layered) socks, your narcs. Another thing to consider packing is a pillow, especially if you are taking a long road trip where you may/may not be driving and have to be in one position for long durations at a time. I love driving and always have, so I quickly learned to have pillows on board when I’m driving or taking the bus, and in the case where I’m flying I make my sweaters and extra layer of clothes I have (which you should have packed along your blanket btw) and use them as support pillows.

I also pack heating pad, yes I have no shame. In this day of technology where planes comes with outlets, yes that is the BEST thing that has happened to the planes these days. For those long flights, and in a plane that has outlets, you will be glad you packed a heating pad. And if you don’t end up in the plane that does, then you can use your pad while waiting to board in the terminals or bring the heating bottles. Although, if in need of heat compression inflight, the crew have ways to heat up water bottles for your use. Emirates crew came through big time during my incident on their airline.

The last thing I pack are snacks/food and water bottle/tumbler, yes I know you are not allowed to bring liquids on board so you bring an empty tumbler/bottle so when you get on board you can fill it up! Or at the water fountains in the airport, either way the goal is to stay hydrated. I sometimes don’t have bottles with me so I wait till I board (if I’m able to, otherwise I buy expensive water at the Hudson stores, sigh) where I can ask for water soon as I board before take off and throughout the duration of flight, as needed of course. Same goes with snacks/food. I am that passenger who asks for extra peanuts and whatever, so thanks to all the air hostess who have been kind and generous to me in the past.

I hope you find this helpful in some ways. If you have pack some things that you have found to be helpful during your trips and was not mentioned above, do feel free to comment below. HAPPY TRIP’N 😀

P.S, please bear with me as I navigate a schedule that works better for posting. And a happy new month!

 

Shame Has Caught Me

*strolls in slowly with feet dragging, head down in shame*

It is I, the prodigal girl, I’m back again but this time shame dragged me back to blogville 👀 lol. It’s actually sad that it has gotten to the point where people have to call me out and bet your bottom dollar that they have on multiple occasions but shame, yes same one that has now brought me back to write, once stopped me. What are we going to do about me eh 🙈

Anyway! Like always, let’s act like nothing happened, jest pray for your girl.

2016! It’s here just like that. It was like film trick but we’re here. I’m more than blessed to see it like you, it’s something I must not take for granted. We ask that God will lead us right this new year, He’ll order our steps and bring everything we desire/ask to fruition.

I’m loving this year already, more than the fact that I am currently basking in the hot sun in Nigeria *sips cold chapman*
The amount of time I have gotten to spend with family most especially my little cousins, most of whom were born after my family left Nigeria, it has been great. They are HILARIOUS! My family members are all clowns and I have had so many moments of deep laughter and that enough makes me happy! Also, I have done things I never thought I will do, most recent and memorable one being climbing Idanre Hills. Yo that alone needs its own post, in fact that’s what I’ll do.

For now, cheers to an awesome 2016 and eventful, blessed year ahead. And to more posts! Amen.

Bella Naija Feature Follow Up

Hey warriors and supporters!

First and foremost, I would love to welcome you if you are new to the blog, it’s nice to have you all here. I am super excited to get to know you more through comments, messages and support.

So, a follow-up post was needed for that last post, which was very abrupt and short btw (sorry I wrote that on my way to work), but I do hope you all found my article insightful, maybe opened your eyes to some things you never gave much thought to. I enjoyed the feedbacks and the comments, please keep them coming, let the conversation continue as you share . And if you have any experiences or stories to share please do so.

Speaking of comments, one of the comments on the article really struck me, see excerpt below 

Dear Sickle Cell Carriers… & All

Few weeks back, this article (below) was floating around the websphere and it quickly got a lot of people’s attention.

Click here to read story

I am not oblivious to the lack in awareness that is desperately needed for Sickle Cell Disease, but I was faced with another realization from the conversation this article started, and that was the lack of understanding of the severity the disease has. When people think sickle cell disease, they automatically attach some range of severity to people living with the disease, but none to people with the sickle cell trait.