Triumphs over sickle cell disease, by Michael Olatunbosun |

KontrinewsJanuary 8, 20263 Mins read4

The book for this week is titled: “Dazzling Mirage (2007, Loud Publishers, Ibadan).” It is one book that has really punched me, remaining etched on the walls of my mind. It is authored by Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare. Egbokhare, a communication consultant, holds a doctorate degree and teaches in the department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan.

Dazzling Mirage narrates the life of Funmiwo, a female sickle cell carrier who suffers from the intermittent crises that flow ceaselessly into her life as a result of her genes. The story chronicles her travails and triumphs against the much dreaded sickle cell disease.

The book also catalogues the physical pains and psychological trauma that she suffered as she forges ahead in life and career.

The story tells of her experience of betrayal, loyalty and love in her quest for self-fulfillment. She overcomes social stigma, prejudice and her own low self-esteem, to achieve career success, marriage and motherhood.

It also unveils, challenges, and demystifies certain myths flying around about sickle cell sufferers. It depicts the social stigma and agonising trauma that victims of the genetic disorder suffer as exemplified by the experience of Funmiwo Adebayo who loses out in a six-year love relationship due to her boyfriend, Sanya Fadipe’s overbearing mother’s objection to the union on account of Funmiwo’s medical condition. It also throws up the importance of knowing one’s spouse’s medical condition before taking the nuptial plunge, while also subtly teaching the foolishness of marrying for love when you both know you are medically incompatible.

But for her brilliance, diligence and dogged spirit, she almost loses her job too, because of her constant plunging into bouts of “crises”, an acute relapse that meant long absence from work.

Ironically, Dotun, her boss and chief executive of the advertising firm for which she works, dramatically falls in love with Funmiwo after watching her campaign on TV with a pro-sickle cell group. The story takes another turn to indicate the right attitude and support people in relationships with sickle cell anemia sufferers ought to give them, as exemplified by Dotun’s character.

Funmiwo, who had blamed her parents Mr. Adebayo a medical doctor and Mrs. Adebayo, a nurse, for her predicament, said they ought to know better than having her, when they knew they were both carriers of the “AS” genotype, was suddenly confronted with the truth on her birthday, that they were merely her foster parents, having adopted her at birth, following her mother’s death during labour at the hospital where they both worked. It was an emotional and unpleasant revelation for both parties, especially the parents who had kept the secret for so long. It leads to a shocked Funmiwo attempting suicide by drowning.

In this 129-page work, the author employs powerful words that powerfully project the scenes before the reader. This powerful use of picture words helps the writer to creatively apply suspense, making the reader want more. This is the experience that literary people try to describe when they coined the word, “un-put-down-able”. The beauty of this book lies in the author’s skill with words; words that carry meaning, words that carry pictures. And right from the opening paragraphs of the book:

“A big hairy dog ambled by the way-side. It stopped near an overflowing dustbin and began to probe. The bin turned over, spilling its content in all directions and bathing the dog with heaps of dried leaves, soiled papers and garbage. The dog shook its tail, ridding itself of the confetti of waste. As it moved, it resembled a mobile heap of trash. The dog shook off the last bit of dirt, and continued its search, fervently, oblivious of every other thing. . .” (p1)

The author meticulously, delicately and colourfully carries the reader through the scenes in quick sequences, giving the impression of urgency. And the reader feels the urgency in the story too, turning page after page in anticipation.

Essentially, Dazzling Mirage draws the reader from a feeling of indifference to empathy and better understanding of the plight of the “sickler” after reading about what goes on in the mind of Funmiwo after another crisis earlier in her life. This peep into the mind of the sickle cell warrior then jolts one into a feeling of guilt for the way the society at large has treated them and things that concern them.

In this work, the author throws up a key motif. It has to do with men who are lax and undecided. Sanya Fadipe, Funmiwo’s boyfriend of six years is seen in this work as a man who is not capable of deciding for himself. Sanya is perpetually tied to his mother, and even continues to live in his mother’s house while gainfully employed and married.

In a nutshell, Dazzling Mirage brings to light the travails of carriers of the sickle cell gene, and it is a great addition to the rich array of literature on the subject of sickle cell anaemia. It is highly recommended for everybody. It is a very well researched work of art with so much entertainment and education especially for young minds. It is a book predicated on the power of determination and hope, for, according to the author, “the day will always break no matter how long or dark the night is”.

. Olatunbosun is reachable via 08023517565 (SMS and WhatsApp only) and [email protected].