Have You Ever Thought About the Connection Between Love and Sickness?
By Pauline Kihali
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to love someone who is sick? How do people show love and care when someone they love has sickle cell disease? What does it really mean to be there for someone with sickle cell, standing by their side no matter what?
Sickle cell disease is a sickness that some people are born with, and it affects their blood. It can cause a lot of pain and make them feel tired. It also affects their relationships because some people don’t understand the disease or are afraid of it. This can make people with sickle cell feel lonely or rejected, like they don’t deserve love.
At a recent workshop by the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance Kenya (NCDAK), many brave people with sickle cell disease shared their stories. They talked about how hard it can be to find love and stay in relationships. Some face problems like money troubles, feeling judged, or even being abandoned. Sadly, many children with sickle cell don’t survive past five years old, and around 14,000 children are born with it every year in Kenya.
But, even in difficult times, there is always hope. Love can be stronger than sickness. When someone chooses to love a person with sickle cell, they show courage and kindness. They understand that, while the sickness is hard, the person with sickle cell is brave and beautiful inside. Love that lasts through sickness is full of patience and strength.
One woman shared, “When my mother-in-law found out I had sickle cell, I was told to pack my things and leave. I’m even afraid of having children because I don’t want them to suffer like I did.”
Another man said, “I’ve been in over 12 relationships before I found someone who could accept me with my condition.”
People with sickle cell are fighters. They face their challenges with bravery, and in the eyes of their loved ones, they are seen as strong and worthy of love. Loving someone with sickle cell takes time, understanding, and patience. It’s important for both people to talk, respect each other, and work through problems together. Even though there are challenges, love gives hope for a future where sickness doesn’t define the relationship.
The cost of treatment for sickle cell can also make things hard. Medicine and hospital visits can be expensive, and this can make people stressed. Many people with sickle cell are asking the government to help by making medicine cheaper and making sure newborn babies are tested early. They also want healthcare workers to learn more about how to care for sickle cell patients.
We need to understand sickle cell better and stop judging people who have it. By learning, caring, and speaking up, we can create a world where love wins over sickness, and everyone is valued for who they are.
#EndTheStigma
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