Meet the 26 years old sickle cell warrior and the Founder of the sickled and fit movement as she shares her beautiful story.

Trunnion News was opportune to speak with a Sickle cell warrior who has an NGO to help others living with this disorder.

In her word she said; The world might see me as a weak or a sickled lady but I have decided to choose the winning path by thriving with sickle cell Anemia

The world doesn’t get to talk of sickle cell as much as they do about cancer, HIV, and some of those other common diseases you can remember from the news, but I have lived with this disease for 26 years

I’ve been stigmatized and discriminated against. I have lived in regret, but not anymore.

“Consider for a moment a boisterous child, full of life and loved by all. This child starts to grow thin and begins to develop yellowish eyes and a protruding stomach. Sometimes desperately needing artificial oxygen, may or may not get to be transfused and moved from hospital to hospital, needing doses of normal saline injections a strong pain killer called pentazocine always at hand.

The scenario is getting rather too touchy, right? Well, this is the story of my life and this has been me for 26 years.

Background:

My name is Judith Ojonugwa Matthew

I am from Kogi state. a graduate of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja. born on the 16th of March 1995. I currently live in Lokoja with my parents from a family of six; two males and four females. I’m a sickle cell patient, the 4th child and the second carrier of the disease in this nuclear family that I’m part of.

The first carrier of the disease (my elder sister) died when I was barely five years old.

I started at the LEA Primary School Lugbe, Abuja, then graduated and went to Bishop Delisle College in Lokoja, Kogi State. To further my education, I went to Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, where I had my National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND).

I sometimes depend on a walking aid to move from place to place As a result of the “sickling” complications of battling Avascular necrosis (AVN)

Judith ojonugwa Matthew has organized several online talk shows, been on media rounds advocating for sickle cell warriors

She hopes to partner with @funkeakindelejenifa on a short sickle cell movie that she hopes will get massive support from the public just as how omoghetto the saga is making rounds

"In Her words before March 16th this year I pray funke akindele reaches out to me, funke has a big platform and I have a sickle cell story, let's do this💪💪

She has gotten several awards , out of which are

The most influential survivor Award in 2019 from Omaliving show award