SICKLE CELL AND WILLPOWER

Last week, I had my quarterly haematology appointment and heard these two guys speaking; one would have been in his late twenties and the other in his thirties.  I found it nice listening to what they were saying because in my social circle, I have no one who suffers from Sickle Cell that I can talk to or compare notes with.

Anyway, back to my two guys, they were talking about not allowing Sickle Cell to stop them from fulfilling their destiny and purpose.  I  of course became quite interested in their conversation.  Then one of them mentioned the power of ‘willpower’.  That word stayed with me, as I was called to go and see my consultant and till I got home.

I decided I would write about this as, anyone with Sickle Cell do that that fighting spirit within us.  The definition of willpower is – control exerted to do something or restrain impulses. Or it could mean – determination, strength of will, strength of character, firmness of purpose, fixity of purpose, resolution, resolve, resoluteness, purposefulness, single-mindedness, drive, commitment, dedication, doggedness, tenacity, tenaciousness, staying power, backbone and spine etc…

As I read all the synonyms of willpower above, I recognised these words in me; I recognised being determined to get something done, when I was feeling unwell and no one knew; I recognised the characteristic of commitment in the things that I do; I recognised how I had a ‘staying power’ to my detriment, when I should have cried for help and the list goes on…  I am sure that you also recognise the above in yourself or in the life of your loved one.  I am of course talking about people with the SS genotype.

The guys in the hospital were talking about not letting anything hold them back and not allowing someone say to them that something cannot be done and I thought, ‘this is so interesting because, what they are talking about just describes me’.  One said he would use willpower to not let a pain get to him, if he had something to do.  Sound familiar?

As someone with Sickle Cell, I can say that we are warriors and striving on in the face of adversity and in the midst of pain.  That is what I told the guys, as I felt, it was not nice listening in, relating to what they were talking about and not invite myself into the conversation.  Afterall, they were not talking quietly and we were all in a public place.

As I said to them that we are warriors, the guys next to me, who had his back turned to me turned around to look at me, as the other guy that he was speaking to and was facing me from afar, smiled.  I got nods of agreement from both of them like, yes, that is the word, after ‘willpower’, we are warriors and they said YES!

This year, keep on being you and at the same time, keep on looking after yourself as you keep on being resolute, purposeful and tenacious about your life, your work, your health, in your desire to not fall sick and in your pursuit of happiness.  

Remember you or your loved one who suffers from Sickle Cell, we are all WARRIORS!