“To save my girls.” Fatoumata’s Sickle Cell Story

Fatoumata B. is a young woman from Guinea, West Africa, and mother to three young girls—Oumou (age 9), Zeinab (age 8), and Fatoumata (age 5). All of the girls have sickle cell disease, and Fatoumata carries the trait. Sickle cell disease tends to be more common in people with African or Caribbean backgrounds. Fatoumata’s two sons tragically died of complications from the disease, and she said that in Conakry, the capital of Guinea where they lived, she was frightened her girls were vulnerable to the same fate.

“Sickle cell disease is like a death sentence where we are from,” Fatoumata said. “The girls have been hospitalized for days at a time and have each been in a coma and on oxygen. I couldn’t keep weight on them,” Fatoumata said, “Everyone thought they were going to die, like their brothers.”

Fatoumata, who has a Masters degree in Communications and worked at a marketing agency in Conakry, decided to move to New York eight months ago in search of better medical care for her girls. Fatoumata said she loves the city and is so pleased with the care her girls are receiving at a city hospital clinic.

The family have all been living in a shelter since their arrival and have all been receiving God’s Love meals, thanks to a social worker who has been helping them. The children’s mother said her girls have been transformed by our meals and love the chicken dishes the most, especially with couscous! The girls also said they like the fish and the juices we send with our kids’ meals. Prior to receiving God’s Love meals, they were relying on other community-provided meals, which the girls did not like. They are Muslim and don’t eat pork, and God’s Love has tailored their meals so they receive what they need and like. The girls have each put on some necessary weight with God’s Love meals and are able to attend elementary school in the city. They are learning English, and take the school bus each morning.

When asked what sickle cell disease feels like, Oumou, the oldest child, said, “Sometimes it’s hard to breathe. I feel scared I’m going to die.”

“They all have asthma,” said Fatoumata.

“And sometimes my heart beats very quickly,” said Oumou. “And there are times when my arms and legs hurt so much. I feel so tired and just don’t feel good. And I feel sad because I can’t play with my sisters and my friends. But I am feeling stronger on the God’s Love meals.” Their mother said the girls’ doctors are amazed with their progress since receiving our meals. They all seem generally brighter, happier, and more energetic.

“Our hospital in New York is excellent,” Fatoumata said. “The girls are all on medication which would be very hard to get in Guinea. It has all been worth it. Our trip to New York was very difficult. We came through Nicaragua and one of the girls needed a transfusion. We were so lucky to make it here where we could get the right care.”

When asked if she had one wish for her girls, she said, “That they grow up with good health. That means everything to me.”

“I love them with all my heart,” said Zeinab, the middle daughter, speaking about her sisters and stretching her arms wide. When asked what she loves about her mom, “There are no words to describe the love I feel.”

You can help support our youngest clients like Oumou, Zeinab, and Fatoumata, as well as the children of our adult clients by sponsoring breakfast as a part of our Make Breakfast Count campaign! Children are back to school across New York City and need your support to begin the day the right way.