When people ignore talks about genotype, I’m hardly surprise because I know that in this part of the world, we prefer cure to prevention even though we know that prevention is cheaper than cure. Sometimes ago a friend once said there is no such thing as AIDs, it is just an American Idea of Discouraging Sex (AIDs). Just the same way some of us will also readily ignore this bit of advice about genotype because you may think, "what the hell! They are just a combination of alphabets," but I tell you that they are much more than that.
Usually there are about four types of genotype; AA, AS, SS and a fourth one which is not more pronounced- AC. If you are an SS, you are only compatible with someone who is an AA. If you are an AS, you are only compatible also with someone who is an AA. The really lucky ones are the AA, because they can settle with anyone without much fear. When an AS marries another AS science said there is only a one out of four chance of having an SS but that has been proven wrong by many happenings in recent time.
Some weeks back, I listened to a programme on inspiration FM, the topic was on genotype, while one of the callers with AS who also married another AS called in to say that he has had five kids who are all AS, another AS couple called in to say that they have had three kids and all are SS. Having lost a loved one to Sickle cell, I can feel their pain.
Two issues about genotype that has received attention in recent time are ‘love and ignorance’. Some people got married without any information about genotype and its consequences, I really sympathise with people in such situation and believe that God will help them but again I hear some young people say “I have come to love him so much, we have come this far, we can’t go back, we can’t break up…”- I tell you, it’s a matter of time!
Imagine marrying that soul mate of yours and living happily only to give birth to a child that will rob you of your time together, love, happiness and most of all cash. You will put everything on the line to save your child if he/she is always sick. And what a heart break you will get when upon getting to the hospital, the doctor takes one look at the child and says, "He/she is a sickler". The word Sickler is mostly used for people that their genotype is SS. Imagine that you have four of such kids giving you headache and heart ache at the same proportion. Imagine the many times you would probably have to abort when you hear the medical report that your unborn child is most likely going to be an SS- it is against your faith and wish. Tell me is it really worth it.
I have heard people say “must it always be all about child bearing?” Tell yourself the truth, you know what happens in Africa when a woman refuses to give birth early after marriage let alone not giving birth at all because of an error she deliberately entered out of love. Perhaps you have never thought about your in-laws and their ability to find another wife for that man you so much love whether through plenty “JUJU or JESUS” The Sickly children may find it difficult to forgive you for such deliberate wickedness done out of selfish interest- Yes! it simply meant that you thought only about yourself (you and your husband) and not about them.
While I am not stigmatizing people living with Sickle cell- I have lost loved ones to it to start with, I am also saying that you should not take chances, your children deserve their right to a happy future.
