My name is Lillian Asana and I am the mother of three children, one of whom is a Sickle Cell Disease Warrior. Her name is Lorna and she has a super special relationship with her brother, Mugagga. Events in my Warrior’s life affect her brother so deeply. He is away at school so he couldn’t write this story, so I will be sharing it on his behalf.
I bake a bit for my kids. In 2020, my Warrior suffered from a second stroke. That day, I baked very special bread using oat flour. To this day, my son has refused to eat that bread because he associates it with that 2nd stroke. He tells me he loves the bread, but even looking at it brings him back to the day he remained home alone all day wondering if his sister would ever see him again. When he looks at that bread, he remembers the fear that overtook him when he saw the look in his sister’s eyes the morning of the stroke as she struggled to find her way around the house.
Siblings of Sickle Cell Disease Warriors go through emotional hell and at times lack basic necessities and emotional support growing up. While Muggaga is still affected to this day, his love for his sister shines through.
Let’s celebrate them and the love they have for their siblings.
