Divine J., 3

Divine John is a cheerful and playful three-year-old boy and the second-born child in his family. He lives with both parents, who are peasant farmers and depend on small-scale cultivation for food and a limited income. When well, Divine is active, curious and sociable and enjoys running, singing, playing with toys and interacting with other children. Divine is a known sickle cell disease patient who developed progressive general body weakness, poor feeding and increasing irritability. His condition continued to worsen; he became unusually quiet, increasingly lethargic and unable to play or interact as he normally would. Although his parents were concerned, they initially delayed seeking hospital care because they were worried about how they would pay the medical expenses. As Divine became markedly weaker and less responsive, they realized they could no longer safely manage him at home and urgently took him to hospital. On arrival, he appeared seriously ill and required immediate medical assessment, treatment and close monitoring. He was diagnosed with severe anaemia.

Divine, a known sickle cell disease patient, presented seriously unwell with severe anaemia, poor feeding, marked weakness and reduced responsiveness. Severe anaemia in sickle cell disease can rapidly compromise oxygen delivery to the brain, heart and other organs and may require urgent stabilization and blood transfusion depending on clinical findings. Close monitoring and evaluation for triggers such as infection are essential. With prompt treatment and correction of the anaemia, his prognosis is cautiously favourable.