I read the story of the lady who is AS and decided to share my experience. At 25, she is worried that she is getting old. Well, I want to use my story and others in her shoes that it is far better to marry late than marry someone whose genotype you are not compatible with. It would drain you emotionally and financially if you let emotions or the fear of growing old, make an important decision like this for you.......CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>>>
I was in my second year in school when I walked into a nearby hospital and asked to check my genotype. I didn’t have any reason other than I wanted to know.
When I got there, I was happy to find that the lab technician was someone from my church. We got into some chit chat and I told him what I was there to do.
This was in 2011. At the time, I thought there were only three statuses; SS, As, or AA. I was told the first two are positive while the latter is negative.
I wasn’t about to get married. I didn’t even have a boyfriend then. I had just heard that this genotype issue caused some drama among couples. So I figured if I knew mine I ahead of time, I would be guarded.
After about an hour of waiting, the technician called me to the lab and told me I was negative. He said I was very fortunate. I was so happy and naïve that I didn’t ask further questions. I gladly went home and broke the news to my family. And went about thinking I was negative, which meant AA.
In my final year, I met Kojo. The man I am currently married to. The first thing he brought up was his genotype. “It’s important for me to know because I am AS,” he said. I calmly told him I was negative. “I am AA. You have nothing to worry about.”
He was happy and so was I. The relationship pretty much progressed after that. As usual, we went through our ups and downs, and now we are married with two beautiful children.
It was during my first antenatal visit that I saw in my lab report I am AC. I recall asking the midwife, “What does this AC mean?” She said it was my genotype but I didn’t believe her.
To clear my mind of all confusion, I went to a different hospital for the same test. The result was the same. I am AC.
My husband was so angry when I went home and broke the news to him. For an entire week, he didn’t speak to me. I didn’t blame myself for the misunderstanding. Surely, if I knew I was AC from the beginning we wouldn’t have gotten together in the first place.
He was more upset because we found out while I was pregnant. We couldn’t have gotten rid of the pregnancy. And we couldn’t have abandoned the baby after birth either. I cried and cried but in the end, I comforted myself with some prayers. That’s what got me through the pregnancy; prayers and holding on to hope.
By God’s grace, I gave birth to a healthy baby girl who is AC. Before we could think of what next to do there was another pregnancy. This time around, I was so afraid that I wouldn’t be so lucky twice.
Even in my fears, God did it again. I delivered another baby girl. She is SC. I recall breaking the news of her report to my husband.
He was angry at me. “This is all your fault,” he yelled, “you deceived me into marrying you. Do you think I will feel any joy being with you after all this?”
I was broken. I cried for days. He never called to check up on us for about two weeks. I remember crying uncontrollably in the consulting room when the paediatrician asked me how my husband handled the news. It was a difficult time for me.
To worsen it, my husband and mother-in-law were ready to take the baby to a herbalist who told them he could cure her when she is a year old.
We are a year and a half old now. Very active and bubbly. We battled a few infections in the initial stages but we are doing fine. She needs more attention since they are prone to infections.
We follow our routine medication; folic acid, iron supplements and penicillin V. We spend not less than GHC1,000 on drugs each month. She is doing well but I get scared whenever she experiences any form of infection or falls sick. So far we haven’t experienced any form of crisis. I am thankful but as always, I can only pray and hold on to hope.
