Nollywood actress and evangelist, , has opened up about the painful journey she faced while raising her son, who battled sickle cell disease for most of his life.
Speaking about her past marriage, Anunobi revealed that before she tied the knot with her ex-husband, Charles, both of them discovered they carried the AS genotype. According to her, the discovery initially made her reconsider the relationship due to the potential health risks for their future children. However, she said her former husband convinced her that they would face any challenge together.
The couple eventually got married and welcomed a baby boy. But shortly before the child turned one, he fell seriously ill. After medical tests, doctors confirmed that the boy had sickle cell disease (SS). That diagnosis, Anunobi said, marked the beginning of a long and emotionally draining battle.
She alleged that the situation caused tension in the family, claiming that her husband gradually distanced himself from both her and their son. Despite shouldering most of the responsibilities, including paying rent, household bills and covering hospital expenses, she said she tried to keep the marriage together.
According to her, whenever their son experienced a sickle cell crisis while she was away from home, her husband would often leave the child unattended. Anunobi said she spent huge sums of money on medical care while raising the boy largely on her own.
The situation reached a breaking point on November 26, 2006. She recalled that while she was at work, her husband’s cousin, Nonye, who was living with them at the time, called to inform her that her husband had packed out of their home. He reportedly told relatives he could no longer cope with raising a child living with sickle cell disease.
Despite the separation, Anunobi said she continued to hope he might return. For nearly two years, she kept his belongings and photographs in the house. However, she claimed he never contacted her to check on their son.
Determined to give her child the best possible care, the actress said she explored different treatment options. At one point, she traveled to Ireland in hopes of arranging a bone marrow transplant. However, doctors warned that the procedure carried significant risks and advised that a sibling donor might be required. She eventually returned to Nigeria and began researching extensively on how to manage sickle cell effectively.
Anunobi said she became extremely careful with her son’s routine and lifestyle. She monitored his diet, ensured he avoided cold exposure, and restricted certain activities to protect his health. According to her, from the age of seven to 14, he did not experience any major sickle cell crisis.
At 14, however, she noticed swelling in his foot and rushed him to the hospital. Doctors diagnosed water retention and recommended either surgery or a strict course of medication and injections for 21 days. She chose the medication option and ensured he completed the full treatment, after which the swelling reportedly disappeared.
Two years later, during a routine medical check-up when her son was 16, doctors asked about his medical history and previous blood transfusions. After learning he had received one at age three, the doctor recommended another transfusion.
Anunobi alleged that during the procedure, a medical student mistakenly carried out a blood extraction instead of the recommended transfusion, removing three pints of her son’s blood. She said the error caused his condition to deteriorate rapidly.
Her son soon developed severe jaundice and was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit. Despite efforts to save him, he passed away on August 22, 2017.
Anunobi described the loss as the most painful experience of her life, saying she had done everything within her power to keep her son alive throughout his 16-year battle with sickle cell disease.
The actress has since used her story to raise awareness about the importance of genotype compatibility and proper medical care for children living with sickle cell disorder.