Sickle cell disease is very serious, not just for you and your partner but for any children you two may plan to have in the future.  I found this rather lengthy article from Sickle cell disease association of America(SCDDA) and thought you and others might find it useful:

What is Sickle Cell Disease?

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells that contain mostly hemoglobin* S, an abnormal type of hemoglobin. Sometimes these red blood cells become sickle-shaped (crescent shaped) and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels.
Normal red
blood cell    Sickle-shaped
red blood cell

When sickle-shaped cells block small blood vessels, less blood can reach that part of the body. Tissue that does not receive a normal blood flow eventually becomes damaged. This is what causes the complications of sickle cell disease. There is currently no universal cure for sickle cell disease.

Hemoglobin – is the main substance of the red blood cell. It helps red blood cells carry oxygen from the air in our lungs to all parts of the body. Normal red blood cells contain hemoglobin A. Hemoglobin S and hemoglobin C are abnormal types of hemoglobin. Normal red blood cells are soft and round and can squeeze through tiny blood tubes (vessels). Normally, red blood cells live for about 120 days before new ones replace them.

People with sickle cell conditions make a different form of hemoglobin A called hemoglobin S (S stands for sickle). Red blood cells containing mostly hemoglobin S do not live as long as normal red blood cells (normally about 16 days). They also become stiff, distorted in shape and have difficulty passing through the body’s small blood vessels. When sickle-shaped cells block small blood vessels, less blood can reach that part of the body. Tissue that does not receive a normal blood flow eventually becomes damaged. This is what causes the complications of sickle cell disease.
Types of Sickle Cell Disease

There are several types of sickle cell disease. The most common are: Sickle Cell Anemia (SS), Sickle-Hemoglobin C Disease (SC)
Sickle Beta-Plus Thalassemia and Sickle Beta-Zero Thalassemia.
What is Sickle Cell Trait?

Sickle Cell trait (AS) is an inherited condition in which both hemoglobin A and S are produced in the red blood cells, always more A than S. Sickle cell trait is not a type of sickle cell disease. People with sickle cell trait are generally healthy.
Inheritance

Sickle cell conditions are inherited from parents in much the same way as blood type, hair color and texture, eye color and other physical traits. The types of hemoglobin a person makes in the red blood cells depend upon what hemoglobin genes the person inherits from his or her parents. Like most genes, hemoglobin genes are inherited in two sets…one from each parent.
Examples:

If one parent has Sickle Cell Anemia and the other is Normal, all of the children will have sickle cell trait.

If one parent has Sickle Cell Anemia and the other has Sickle Cell Trait, there is a 50% chance (or 1 out of 2) of having a baby with either sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait with each pregnancy.

When both parents have Sickle Cell Trait, they have a 25% chance (1 of 4) of having a baby with sickle cell disease with each pregnancy.
How will I know if I have the Trait?

A SIMPLE PAINLESS BLOOD TEST followed by a laboratory technique called Hemoglobin Electrophoresis will determine the type of hemoglobin you have. When you pass an electric charge through a solution of hemoglobin, distinct hemoglobins move different distances, depending on their composition. This technique differentiates between normal hemoglobin (A), Sickle hemoglobin (S), and other different kinds of hemoglobin (such as C, D, E, etc.).
Medical Problems

Sickle cells are destroyed rapidly in the body of people with the disease causing anemia, jaundice and the formation of gallstones.

The sickle cells also block the flow of blood through vessels resulting in lung tissue damage (acute chest syndrome), pain episodes (arms, legs, chest and abdomen), stroke and priapism (painful prolonged erection). It also causes damage to most organs including the spleen, kidneys and liver. Damage to the spleen makes sickle cell disease patients, especially young children, easily overwhelmed by certain bacterial infections.
Treatment

Health maintenance for patients with sickle cell disease starts with early diagnosis, preferably in the newborn period and includes penicillin prophylaxis, vaccination against pneumococcus bacteria and folic acid supplementation.

Treatment of complications often includes antibiotics, pain management, intravenous fluids, blood transfusion and surgery all backed by psychosocial support. Like all patients with chronic disease patients are best managed in a comprehensive multi-disciplinary program of care.

Blood transfusions help benefit sickle cell disease patients by reducing recurrent pain crises, risk of stroke and other complications. Because red blood cells contain iron, and there is no natural way for the body to eliminate it, patients who receive repeated blood transfusions can accumulate iron in the body until it reaches toxic levels. It is important to remove excess iron from the body, because it can gather in the heart, liver, and other organs and may lead to organ damage. Treatments are available to eliminate iron overload.
Promising Treatment Developments

In search for a substance that can prevent red blood cells from sickling without causing harm to other parts of the body, Hydroxyurea was found to reduce the frequency of severe pain, acute chest syndrome and the need for blood transfusions in adult patients with sickle cell disease. Droxia, the prescription form of hydroxyurea, was approved by the FDA in 1998 and is now available for adult patients with sickle cell anemia. Studies will now be conducted to determine the proper dosage for children.

Other treatment options in clinical development include new, more convenient options than current therapies to eliminate iron overload caused by repeated blood transfusions.

http://www.sicklecelldisease.org/about_scd/[/color]

@Drumello,My brother I can feel your pain from here. I guess you are feeling a little abandoned right now. Who wouldn't? but this is not the way to go about it. Easy bros, ehem she is still your mother and your children needs their nanny.



@Mamagina listen to your young man cries, dis nijapals shit is all a fantasy, Drumello is blood and i can recall how that young defended you earlier on this contest, he stuck up for you. Your grandchildren also needs you. Pls go home to your loved ones, i belive some1/somepple need a massive hug right now, and perhaps a kiss also. ........Men go and come but your children are yours forever.


@Eddywamama How dare you? u have no right to talk to the young man like that. wen young men get themselve involved wit women old enough to be their mother, it is only right they expect insult too, its part of the package. In the igbo land as well one neva insults their inlaw, Druello is your Ogor and he deserves respect even if you are older than him.
I think you should zip your mouth and let mother and son work out their difference. but out and stay out- for now.

career women is not 4 everi man, my job broke up my last relationship
if its not 4 u find some1 else, d longer u leave it d more painful d break.

bros d orange shirt, abi u spend some time inside?

In my experience women r more intelligent than men, i dont know y dis is d case

I wll nominate Rify as d most attractive on dis site. Her face has great bone structure, excellent definition,flawless tone and a great smile.

Na only deformity!! ......i will get up, run to my friend and give my friend a massive hug and after i will proudly introduce him/her to d world in a very loud voice.
I make very few friends but they r 4 life - as they come.

passing

With less than one day to go, the total vote is still a MERE 491. This is less than 0.01% of the total members of this community. I'm sure everyone will agree with me that this campaign can now be declared a failure because the community has not spoken. How then, i wonder can the result be valid or authoritative enough? There is only honourable thing to do in a situation like this (Dguy pls take note) scrap the whole thing!

Kennee rocks!! can i just congratulate u on d way u have handled this situation today, your manners are impeccable, gentlemanly and diplomatic to say d least. Keep it up pal, u remain my hero.
God bless u pal and ur generation to come

@beauti4, i hope Chrissiebee's explanation was sufficient. I am around for another 20mins or so, getting ready for my 14 hrs day, do drop a line if u require further information, regards.

aplogies for typo error simple meant to write simply, just waking up oh. Have a great day everyone, one luv

There are several arguements here, as such a generic sum up will simple not do.
One that is of interest to me is: Was Mama Wat right to post a private mail in the forum?  In my opinion her action is disgraceful as such I believe she should now not only apologise to Kennee but to Nigapal community as a whole.

if any bodi has to apologise na dat mama wat eva not Kennee no way.
One more thing Eddy nwamama my igbo brother u appear to be a guy with some class, wit and darm gud u sense of humour, defintely have a place in the diplomatic service. I can't get it bro u and dat woman, from my limited observation una two no gel at all, more like chalk and cheese if u ask me.
What is it? Abi na Ame visa? its not dat difficult to get anymore dem just dey dish out multiples these days? or is it money?-what does she ride? which plastic she dey pull? what is d attraction, bros u can do better i swear

Kennee babe i don wait tire for yahoo now. my gurls dey here, fun is the name of the gameand we wan roll go town, easy bro, bell me and i will call u back. Baby u r my HERO, my crew says hie.

i stand by what i said Mama wat eva her name acted disgracefully by posting a private mail in the forum.

@Kennee I am bored stiff oh, noting much dey happen for Essex tonight- wish u were here oh, but u each time i invite u, u always say no. My Pal abeg come over to Yahoo now make we yan, i have so much to tell u.

passing.

Just checking to see if time don reach for Lawyers to take over. Kennee my boo, I'm right behind you. No shaking for ur side.

Dat mama wat eva she is called should be ashamed of herself, publishing a private mail in d forum.
Its a suspect what she aims to achieve with this?
Do i detect a change of tactics? last one was ......I better not say b4 dem say i don talk.