HE'S DEFINITELY 21!

While the doctors were on strike my friend and classmate from Drexel Med, Ruby informed me of an awesome opportunity allowing me to participate in a medical mission trip in Oyo State, Nigeria with LABAKCARE Organization. (I will put up a post about the trip later.)

Today while on the ward, I met an individual who was 22 years old but appeared to be 13 or 14 years old. This case reminded me of a particular case I saw while in Oyo state and decided to share it with you guys!

While volunteering in Oyo State, Ruby and I encountered a mother and her son that approached our station. When we asked the age of her child, she said he was 21 years old, we looked at each other and assumed she did not understand the question, as a result, we asked again in Yoruba. Once the young man spoke, with assertiveness I may add, we were most definitely certain he was truly 21 years old.

Below are pictures of the young man, and a picture of myself to have something to compare the height and development of the young man. (use the white arrow/red background as a height reference)

After discussion with the mother and the son, it was ascertained that the young man was a 

(has sickle cell disease. Though I’ve read that the disease can cause delays in growth, I was floored by how dramatic the underdevelopment could be.

Sickle cell disease is one hell of a disease, it can effect almost every organ of the body; heart, brain, lungs, muscles, etc. The complications occur as a result of the blockage of the small blood vessels and the breakdown of red blood cells.

In this particular case, delay in proper growth resulted, because his body was unable to get red blood cells, which normally provide the body with oxygen and nutrients needed for growth. As a result, the shortage of healthy red blood cells led to his slow growth.

SIDENOTE

After dispensing his medications to him, he left with his mother. However, a few minutes later he returned to ask me for my number. After which I noted to myself, “he’s definitely 21!” All this happened while his mother stood a distance away looking on assiduously HAHA!  I kindly declined and told him I’m too old for him :-p

This showed that his mind is fully developed even if his body is not!