Veteran Nollywood actress and evangelist, Eucharia Anunobi, has spoken about the emotional and physical challenges she faced while raising her son who lived with Sickle Cell Disease before his passing.
The actress shared the deeply personal story during a recent appearance on the Honest Brunch Podcast, where she reflected on motherhood, faith and the years she spent caring for her only child.
According to Anunobi, the difficult journey began when her son fell seriously ill shortly before his first birthday. Medical tests carried out at the hospital later confirmed that he had the SS genotype, a severe form of sickle cell disorder.
The revelation, she said, marked the beginning of what she described as the toughest battle of her life.
“Just before my son was one year old, he fell ill and I took him to the hospital. They checked his genotype and said he was SS, and there started the battle of my life,” the actress said during the interview.
Determined to help her son live as comfortably as possible, Anunobi explained that she immediately began searching for information and treatments that could help manage the condition. She said she read extensively about the disease, explored different medications and even studied herbs that could support his health.
“I started going everywhere. I started looking for medication, reading about herbs and studying everything about what it means to take care of an SS child,” she recalled.
The Nollywood star also revealed that caring for a child with sickle cell required strict lifestyle precautions. She said she had to be mindful of environmental factors such as heat and dust, which could trigger painful crises for those living with the condition.
“I started understanding that they can’t stay where there is dust or where there is heat. My son never drank pure water,” she added.
Despite the constant medical concerns and sacrifices, Anunobi described the years she spent raising her son as one of the most meaningful chapters of her life.
She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to experience motherhood, noting that nurturing her child for over sixteen years brought her immense joy.
“The joy of having nurtured a child for 16 years, six months and 22 days — those years were one of the most glorious years of my life,” she said.
According to the actress, the experience also had a profound impact on her spiritual life. She said caring for her son strengthened her faith and deepened her relationship with God.
“I’m grateful to God for making me a mother, and I learnt so much in the course of taking care of him. It deepened my relationship with God,” Anunobi stated.