Did You Test Your Genotype, or Boom—Magic Just Happened?

Let’s be honest. When love hits, we all think we’re in a Nollywood or Riverwood movie. The butterflies, the late-night texts, the forehead kisses—pure magic. But wait a minute… did you test your genotype or just hope for the best?

In Kenya, where conversations around love and marriage often skip the science, too many couples discover too late that their fairytale includes a lifelong battle with a silent, genetic intruder—sickle cell disease (SCD). According to Kenya’s Ministry of Health, about 14,000 children are born annually with SCD. The tragedy? Many of these cases could have been prevented by a simple blood test before saying “I do.”

Eucharia Anunobi: When Love Meets the Unexpected

Nigerian actress Eucharia Anunobi captivated audiences with her talent and elegance, but behind the cameras was a mother fighting a losing battle. Her only son, Raymond, was born with sickle cell disease. What started as a celebration of life quickly turned into a relentless cycle of hospital visits, tears, and whispered prayers.

Her marriage couldn’t survive the weight of chronic illness. Her once-thriving career took a backseat. In a gut-wrenching confession, she revealed how caregiving consumed her life, and eventually, her beloved son passed away at just 15 years old. The heartbreak is unimaginable—but the lesson is hauntingly clear.

So… Is Your Marriage Built to Last or Held Together by Hope?

This is where it gets uncomfortable. Many couples swear undying love, but that love is rarely tested until hardship strikes. And sickle cell doesn’t knock gently—it barges in with ER visits at midnight, drained bank accounts, sleepless nights, and the heavy silence of helplessness.

Some partners stay, growing stronger in the fire. But others? They walk away.

Psychologists call this the "caregiver effect"—one partner becomes the nurse, the parent, the provider, while the other emotionally checks out or physically disappears. And children born with sickle cell? They often pick up on this. They feel it. And sadly, they sometimes blame themselves for breaking their parents' love.

Emotional Burdens Carried by Children with Sickle Cell in Kenya

For a child living with SCD, life is more than physical pain—it’s an emotional minefield. Many of these children wrestle with identity, self-worth, and questions too heavy for their age.

They wonder: Why me? Why didn’t my parents test? They internalize their condition, believing they are a punishment or a mistake. Some feel guilty when siblings have to miss school or when parents argue over hospital bills. Others suffer silently, afraid to dream too big because pain could return at any moment.

In some areas  where awareness is still growing, children face stigma—both in school and in social settings. They’re seen as weak, cursed, or “always sick.” Teachers may grow impatient. Friends drift away. These children are often too tired to keep up, both academically and emotionally.

The emotional trauma doesn’t end with childhood. As they grow older, many young adults with SCD in Kenya struggle with depression, fear of intimacy, and anxiety about passing the condition to their own children.

Why Genotype Testing Is Still Ignored in Kenya: A Hard Question

So, why aren’t more couples taking genotype tests before starting a family? The answers are as layered as they are heartbreaking.

Some believe it’s unromantic—“Love will conquer all,” they say. Others assume modern medicine will fix everything. Cultural expectations and religious beliefs also play a role. In some communities, testing is seen as questioning God’s will or mistrusting your partner.

But love without knowledge is a dangerous kind of blindness. Genotype testing costs less than a night out, yet it could spare a child a lifetime of pain.

Conclusion: The Real Test of Love Is Not the Wedding Day—It’s the Choices You Make Before It

We don’t talk enough about what real love looks like. It’s not the flashy engagement shoots or the matching Ankara outfits. It’s asking hard questions. It’s choosing science and faith. It’s walking away from a relationship if it means sparing future generations from avoidable suffering.

Sickle cell disease is real, it’s painful, and it’s preventable. So before you fall in love again, ask the tough questions. Get tested. Talk. Think.

Because love should give life—not gamble with it.

Also read: Love Through the Window: A Tale of Two Marriages