Diana Bahati's Lookalike's Daughter Marks World Sickle Cell Day with Emotional Message
- Young Jennifer recalled her early years battling sickle cell, with intense pain and frequent hospital visits
- Despite enduring so much physical and emotional pain, she remains hopeful, calling herself a "warrior" and inspiring others
- Jennifer urged people to see the invisible battle sickle cell warriors face daily and calls for more care, support and awareness
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A beautiful young Kenyan girl has penned a heartwarming message as a sickle cell warrior.
Source: TikTok
Jennifer marked World Sickle Cell Day with a thoughtful and emotional message that would trigger your tears.
Jennifer is the daughter of a TikToker named Rhoda Barasa, who previously made headlines because of her resemblance to YouTuber Diana Marua.
Commemorating World Sickle Cell Day
In her message, which she shared exclusively with TUKO.co.ke, the young girl narrated her journey with the condition.
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According to Jennifer, she was diagnosed with sickle cell when she was four.
Her description paints a sad picture, full of pain and heartache.
"I didn’t know what it was. I only knew that I was always in pain… deep pain. Sometimes my legs hurt so much I couldn’t walk. Sometimes I cried until I fell asleep. I remember nights when I couldn’t breathe well, and my mummy would carry me to the hospital. The pain would come like a fire — burning my chest, my back, my arms, everything. People would look at me and say, ‘But she looks okay.’ But inside, I was breaking. I missed birthdays. I missed school. I missed playing with my friends. I hated the needles, the medicines, the blood tests. I asked God, Why me?" Jennifer wrote.
Source: TikTok
Hope of sickle cell warrior
Despite all this pain, Jenniffer has remained strong as a true sickle cell warrior.
According to her, she smiles through pain, but is hopeful that she will eventually win the battle.
'But even in all that pain… I’m still here. I’m still fighting. I smile through my pain. I sing. I draw. I hold my mummy’s hand and I tell her I’ll be okay, even when I don’t feel okay. Sickle cell has taught me to be brave. To fight even when I’m tired. To believe that one day, I’ll be healed. I am not just a sick girl. I am a warrior. And I want the world to see us. To see children like me. To care. To support. To speak out. Because behind every smile of a sickle cell warrior. There is a battle no one sees," she continued.
Sickle cell warriors start campaign to end stigma
In a related article, a group of survivors from Kakamega started a campaign to debunk misconceptions and cultural beliefs associated with sickle cell.
It was noted that one of the common misconceptions in those areas is that sickle cell is caused by witchcraft. This is a false belief that the team aims to eradicate.
A medical doctor had also advised communities within Bungoma and Kakamega counties to consider marrying outside the region to reduce cases of the disease.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
