Sickle Cell Anaemia Patient Speaks After Surviving Coronavirus

A Nigerian lady, Danielle Jinadu, has spoken out after surviving COVID-19 despite having sickle cell anaemia, inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis tendencies.

Usually, people with underlying conditions are at a higher risk of dying from Coronavirus. Danielle Jinadu lives with 3 chronic illness and, as such, she was considered a high-risk COVID-19 patient.

Fortunately, she survived COVID-19. She took to Instagram to thank her body for always fighting, no matter what is thrown at it.

See what she wrote below;

“I have 3 chronic health conditions and I am a Covid-19 Survivor.

I contracted Corona Virus in early March. From where? I don’t know. But I can guess. From who? I have no clue. But from about March the 10th (before the 12-week isolation period for the ‘shielding category’ was formed) I have been in and out of hospital, inundated with an overwhelming number of symptoms.

At first, I didn’t know what was going on with me. I just remember that I kept telling my mum; something was really wrong with me, but I didn’t know what. It was like my body was trying to tell me something. I just didn’t understand it. The journey between those moments and now has been a really challenging one.

And I hope to write about it more at some point, maybe through an article or blogpost. But this post isn’t really about that particular journey.

This is more about a journey with self. This is actually a thank you note, to my body. As someone born with a chronic illness, dealing with its challenges from the age of five, at times throughout my life I have seen my body as a burden -to both others and myself.

Something that prevented me from having a lot of things and experiences. But today, I want to publicly apologise and say thank you. Thank you for fighting for me everyday, fighting infection, fighting diseases, FIGHTING COVID-19 and THRASHING IT. Protecting my heart and mind.

I should say this more often, but I really appreciate you. You have never given up on me, so I won’t give you. You have never given up on me, so I won’t give up on you. As I get older, I’m starting to see this little disabled body of mine as a really good friend rather than an enemy. Together we are forging new heights. Battling new challenges, taking on greater giants and breaking huge barriers.

This pandemic is a really challenging time for many of us. But I hope we will leave it stronger than we were when we entered it. And I have often found that doesn’t mean leaving without a scar or two. Wishing you all the best.”

She also spoke to BBC. During the interview, Danielle said what helped her stay positive and beat the deadly virus was the belief that's she's "intrinsically a survivor."

Watch Her Speak In The Video Below;