Help Samantha Fight Sickle Cell Disease

My name is Meggison Obeto Omoruyi, I am raising funds for my friend battling sickle cell anemia...Her Story

A Cry for Help: Samantha’s Battle with Sickle Cell Disease

My name is Samantha Adesua Esangbedo, a single mother of two beautiful children, a warrior fighting sickle cell disease, and a woman who refuses to let this condition define her. But today, I am also a woman in desperate need of your help.

Sickle cell disease has been my lifelong companion, a relentless foe that has stolen my strength, my time, and my ability to provide for my children. The pain crises are unbearable, the hospital visits are endless, and the financial burden is crushing. I am not just fighting for myself; I am fighting for my children, who have had to grow up too fast, watching their mother struggle with a disease that knows no mercy.

I am not lazy. I am not weak. I am a fighter. But sickle cell disease has made it impossible for me to hold a steady job. Employers, no matter how understanding they may seem, cannot tolerate the frequent absences caused by my health crises. I have tried to build a life for my family, but the constant hospital stays, the medications, and the overwhelming fatigue have left me with no means of livelihood.

In 2018, I started a foundation to create awareness about sickle cell disease, offering free genotype testing and supporting children living with this condition. I wanted to make a difference, to ensure that others did not suffer in silence. But as my health deteriorated, I could no longer keep up with the demands of running the foundation. Sickle cell disease took the worst of me, and I had to step back from the very cause I was so passionate about.

In Nigeria, where I live, sickle cell disease is often misunderstood. Some people thank God it’s not them, others stigmatize us, calling us names like “Ogbanje” or witches. But I am none of these. I am just a mother, a woman, a human being, begging for a chance to live a life free from constant pain and fear.

Recently, a new treatment for sickle cell disease was announced, but it comes with a staggering price tag of £1.65 million. For someone like me, this is an impossible dream. But even if I cannot afford this treatment, I still need help to manage my condition. I need medications, regular check-ups, and the means to start a small, sustainable business that I can run at my own pace, one that will allow me to provide for my children without the fear of losing my job due to illness.

I am not asking for pity. I am asking for a chance—a chance to live, to thrive, and to be the mother my children deserve. A chance to continue my work in raising awareness about sickle cell disease and supporting others who are fighting this battle.

This is my cry for help. If you can find it in your heart to support me, no amount is too small. Your kindness will not only help me but will also give my children hope for a better future. Together, we can break the stigma surrounding sickle cell disease and show the world that warriors like me are worth fighting for.

Thank you for listening to my story. Thank you for being a light in my darkest hour.

With hope and gratitude,

Samantha Adesua Esangbedo