CHINA TORI

AUTHOR:
DAVID OLUWASEYE OWOEYE

THEME
SICKLE CELL DISORDER

NUMBER OF PAGES
145 PAGES

NUMBER OF CHAPTERS
FIVE

YEAR OF PUBLICATION
SEPTEMBER 2020

THEME: A LIFE WITH SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA
The book has a unique allure because it is autobiographical in nature. It chronicles the life of the author and his many confrontations with the challenges of growing up with and living with Sickle Cell Disorder.

AUTHORSHIP
The book, A LIFE WITH SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA is birthed by a Medical Doctor who doubles as a Sickle Cell Warrior. This authentic authorship boosts the reliability of the contents of the book.

The author unveiled the often-shrouded ‘unpleasant’ experiences that Sickle Cell Warriors grapple with. This transparency makes it easy for the warriors and their caregivers to be at ease with the many-sided manifestations of Sickle Cell Disorder.

LANGUAGE
The author adopts lucid language in writing the book. This makes for easy adaptation of real-life experiences and comprehension of medical facts about Sickle Cell Disorder.

Aside the use of prose, the author used several poems to convey his inner thoughts, wishes, struggles, and hopes about Sickle Cell Disorder. A deeper look at both usages strengthens the versatility of the author to convey the message he intends to pass across to the readers.

In addition to the author’s use of language, the Editorial Crew did an amazing job in coming up with an excellent book that was thoroughly attended to.

THE THEME OF THE BOOK
UNDERSTANDING THE THEME
Sickle Cell Disorder is a group of diseases that affects haemoglobin (the molecule in red blood cells) that delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body.

Sickle Cell Disorder is inherited by birth, in an autosomal recessive pattern. This is based on the gene the child inherits from both parents. This inheritable disorder is common to the black race.
People with this disorder have atypical haemoglobin molecules called Haemoglobin S, which can distort red blood cells into a sickle or crescent shape.
Rather than being addressed as ‘sufferers’, the term ‘Sickle Cell Warrior’ is acceptable among those living with Sickle Cell Disorder to help them tackle the stigma associated with it.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BOOK
Chapter One provides a brief introduction to the need for adequate knowledge about the theme of the book.

The second chapter gives detailed health information and medical analysis of the disease. It points out the triggers of the disorder. It goes further to list some crises and complications experienced by the warrior.

In Chapter Three, there is an historical compilation of Sickle Cell Disorder.

Chapter Four is an interesting chapter of the book. It brings the reader up-close-and personal with the personal battles the author comes in contact with in the course of living as a Sickle Cell Warrior. Some of them include:
Pubertal delay
Pica (the uncontrollable craving and eating of substances with no food value)
Epistaxis (Nose bleeding)
Priapism {A purposeless, persistent, progressive (prolonged) and painful penile (penis) erection}

The last chapter (chapter Five), contains several poems put together by the author during many times of being depressed, sick or battling with Sickle Cell Disorder. Some are like prayers where he calls upon God for help. In some others, he offers encouragement to fellow warriors. It shows the therapeutic effect of soothing words in times of pain.

THE DOWNSIDES

There are some downsides to the book. Improving them will make the next Revised Edition of the book weightier in impact.

Some chapters (Chapters 1&3) are too brief. While the author is not encouraged to put irrelevant contents in the book, a little bit of more useful contents can be added to the aforementioned chapters to make them more robust.

There is a myth that Sickle Cell Warriors would die from the disorder after reaching a certain age. Being a medical doctor, the author could have shed more light on this.

RECOMMENDATIONS
This book is going to be a useful tool for Health Professionals and Students, Sickle Cell Warriors and those who care for them.
Not only for those mentioned in the last paragraph, A LIFE WITH SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA, is recommended for all and sundry. It helps the reader ‘live’ in the world of a warrior and equips him/her to be of immense help in case they come in contact with one at a later date.

The author did a fantastic job on deep research, and I must commend his ‘generosity’ to lay bare those ‘private’ parts of his life for the public to gain from.

SUGGESTIONS
Having read through the book, I want to suggest the following:
The author ought to write an ABRIDGED VERSION of the book. The highlights in this bigger volume must be broken down into elementary crumbs so that every sickle cell warrior of younger age bracket can read and understand. Like he stated in Chapter 1, having adequate knowledge of the disorder is a huge plus that will make managing it bearable.

There should be a Glossary at the end of the book that gives the layman understanding of the medical terms.

REVIEWER
Reviewed by: Taiwo, Ayodele Muyiwa (Mrs.)
Ayodele is a seasoned writer. She is a Book Writing Consultant. For over a decade, she has consulted for several clients within and outside Nigeria. She has a Master’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Ibadan and is wrapping up her second Master’s degree in Theatre Arts (Dramatic Theory and Criticism Major) from the University of Lagos. She resides in Lagos, Nigeria.