Featured: Inspired By Her Challenges, A Warrior Speaks Up.

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Whenever many hear the word sickle cell, they immediately conjure hospitals and subsequent death. Like many other sickle cell warriors, our first ever feature is debunking this myth. She felt inspired by the challenges she had to face in life as a sickle cell warrior to be who she is today. Read her inspiring words in this interview.


J2E: Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Can you please tell us about yourself?

Anne-Chantal: My names are Ayuk Besong Anne-Chantal, I am a Cameroonian journalist. I work on empowering young people by coaching them on networking and employability; I also educate children and parents of children living with Sickle Cell Anaemia, a disease (condition) I was born with.



 

J2E: How has being a sickle cell warrior shape the course of your life? (a) What are the challenges? (b) Joys?
Anne- Chantal: Being a Sickle Cell warrior is a mix of happy  moments when I succeed to get a child or his or her parents to understand their disease and how to live a healthy lifestyle with it , but also painful and sad if I had to consider some of the hardships being born with Sickle Cell posed for me and for some of the young people I speak to. Being discriminated upon by some schools mates were the hardest moments for me .However it made me stronger as I learnt to be responsible for myself at a very early age. I also learnt to be hard working as I know I didn’t have the physical strength like other children so I made sure I studied hard to succeed in life.

So the challenges became sources of inspiration for me. They made me strong; I learnt to do everything I couldn’t normally do just so no one would call me different. So at age 10 I read books like Think and Grow Rich, amongst others which even my older siblings did not read, my parents taught me to be independent, I went to the farm, did housework, learnt to know my limits so as not to over work myself and fall ill.With this upbringing I grew up seeing the disease as something not to be afraid of but to learn to understand.
J2E: There is not much of a public health concern surrounding sickle cell in Cameroon. What are your thoughts on establishing an advocacy group?
Anne-Chantal:  An advocacy group on Sickle Cell is a great idea. Something which will help sufferers and their parents push forward their rights to better health care, a real nightmare for parents and patients who are always worried over lack of proper drugs, lack of understanding of the disease by medical personnel leading to accidents in hospitals, etc. However an advocacy group won’t solve everything. There is a need for education, education for parents and sufferers. Then education for the society so they understand Sickle Cell is not contagious or any such thing and so all the clichés about the disease ends .People are always afraid of what they can’t understand so if they understand about the disease then parents will not call their children witches because they have a disease they don’t understand. People will not refuse to give sufferers a job and other opportunities on grounds that they will die soon because they are SS. So advocacy is needed but education too.

 

J2E: Before we round this interview, any encouraging words to other warriors?
Anne- Chantal: Encouraging words, well just to tell all warriors, don’t give up.  And don’t let others make you think you are less than what you are. Be confident in yourselves because warriors are always very intelligent and talented. Trust that and trust God. Rest well, eat well, with lots of fruits and vegetables and water, do what you love within your limits. That is my word to sufferers. Let your dreams take you to wherever you wish to be.

 
The different faces of a beautiful and phenomenal warrior. Pic credits Anne- Chantal Besong.

Thank you for adding your voice to this battle on awareness. It was an amazing discussion with you. To our readers, if you have a child or know someone living with sickle cell, I hope this motivates and inspires you. Living with sickle cell can be challenging but it is not devoid of joys and other interesting moments.

Keep reading, keep sharing and keep commenting. We are inspired by your comments, thank you.

ARREY E. AGBOR-NDAKAW.

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Mbole D
Mbole D
8 years ago

Thanks for sharing Anne-Chantal’s story. It’s quite inspiring. Keep up the fight and tge awareness

Joy2Endure
Joy2Endure
8 years ago
Reply to  Mbole D

Thank you for stopping by Mbole Sis. Glad you find Anne-Chantal’s story just as inspiring. The fight goes on. Thank you.

T. AGBOR
T. AGBOR
8 years ago

Keep up the fight and advocacy. Genetics is what we have to live with as such education is fundamental. Knowledge of the disease and the myths surrounding it need to be known so keep on doing what you are doing.

Joy2Endure
Joy2Endure
8 years ago
Reply to  T. AGBOR

Thank you T.Agbor. It is always great having you stop by with an encouraging word or two. You are right everything stems from genetics reason why education is essential.

AYUK MARY AGBOR NDAN
AYUK MARY AGBOR NDAN
8 years ago

Keep it up my dear people need to understand that having such an illness is not the end of life. You are such a courageous and hard working person more grease to your elbow. you make us proud

Joy2Endure
Joy2Endure
8 years ago

Dear Ms Mary, thank you very much for the kind words. There is really a need awareness on this condition. Please do keep following and cheering us with your kind words,thank you.

Rosie Tanyi Takang
Rosie Tanyi Takang
8 years ago

Arrey baby, I am so proud of the strong woman you’ve grown into. Keep up the good work. May God continue to strengthen you and others going through this condition.

Joy2Endure
Joy2Endure
8 years ago

Thank you very much Sis Rosie for the kind words and amen to that! Glad to see you stop by. Please do come again.

Precious
Precious
8 years ago

This was such a delight to read. Good to see a beautiful warrior that is making great strides. Many people need to understand that being SS is not a death sentence. You ladies inspire me. And I agree, warriors are very intelligent and talented. Keep shining the light on this, sis.

http://www.preciouscore.com

Joy2Endure
Joy2Endure
8 years ago
Reply to  Precious

Thanks sis for always. You picked out some important facts and yes, people need to understand living with SS is not a death sentence. The fight goes on and hopefully, the light will keep shinning on this issue.

Sheryl Ndasi
Sheryl Ndasi
8 years ago

Very inspiring and may the good God continue to give you strength and wisdom to fight on. Keep it up my dear sis. One love.

Joy2Endure
Joy2Endure
8 years ago
Reply to  Sheryl Ndasi

Hi Sheryl, So good to see you stop by. Thank you for the encouraging words and thoughts and amen to that. Thank you. One love.

Ayenika
Ayenika
8 years ago

Anne-Chantal is such an inspiration. So happy to see her story featured!

Joy2Endure
Joy2Endure
8 years ago
Reply to  Ayenika

Hi Ayenika,
She sure is. Thank you for stopping by. Please do come again.

Bessem Takor
Bessem Takor
8 years ago

Thank you for sharing this story. It’s good to know that there are other strong warriors out there!

Joy2Endure
Joy2Endure
8 years ago
Reply to  Bessem Takor

Thanks Sis for stopping by. There are many strong warriors out there for sure. If we all could speak up and raise our voices, we could easily be able to educate the masses on this condition based on our collective stories.