Eucharia Anunobi Opens Up on Son’s 16-Year Battle with Sickle Cell Disease

Veteran Nollywood actress and evangelist Eucharia Anunobi has shared the emotional journey of caring for her son, who lived with sickle cell disease, before his passing. The actress revealed her experience during a candid conversation on the Honest Brunch Podcast.

Anunobi recalled that her son fell ill shortly before his first birthday, when medical tests confirmed he had the SS genotype. “Just before my son was one year old, he fell ill and I took him to the hospital. They checked his genotype and said he was SS, and there started the battle of my life,” she said tearfully.

Determined to provide the best care, she immersed herself in learning about the condition, exploring medications, herbal remedies, and all aspects of managing sickle cell disease. “I started going everywhere. I started looking for medication, reading about herbs and studying everything about what it means to take care of an SS child,” Anunobi explained.

She also implemented strict lifestyle precautions to safeguard her son’s health, noting, “I started understanding that they can’t stay where there is dust or where there is heat. My son never drank pure water.”

Despite the challenges, Anunobi described the 16 years, six months, and 22 days she spent nurturing her son as one of the most rewarding periods of her life. “I’m grateful that God gave me the opportunity to be a mother. The joy of having nurtured a child for those years was one of the most glorious years of my life,” she said.

The experience, she added, strengthened her faith and deepened her relationship with God. “I’m grateful to God for making me a mother, and I learnt so much in the course of taking care of him. It deepened my relationship with God,” Anunobi reflected.

Her story highlights both the challenges of raising a child with sickle cell disease and the profound resilience and love of parents navigating such journeys.