FINDING HOPE AGAIN: AUGUSTA SEVALI’S STORY

I had heard about sickle cell anaemia but I had little or no knowledge about what exactly it was until I fell in love with a man who was affected by it. I never would have imagined that sickle cell would change my life, but it did.

Let me tell you a little about myself and share my story. I am Augusta Sevali . Last week I turned 26. I am a graduate of Philosophy from the Fourah Bay College University. I have a beautiful daughter named Christine Sevali.

I enjoy putting fresh produces together to make amazing meals because I consider cooking very therapeutic. I can binge-watch a whole series in a day (before I became a mum of course), now I spend my TV time watching Peppa Pig.

Before graduating, I had always known that I was destined for business so instead of taking the “normal” route-which is to find a job. I thought about ideas- What did I enjoy doing more and will get paid for offering it as a service.  

In 2017, I registered two businesses; Yum and Booze Restaurant and Bar and a Logistics Company, Nyalie’s Company Limited. I started developing both simultaneously and then I realized that for both businesses to grow to the height I want, I would have to lay a proper foundation. So I put the logistics company on hold until the restaurant was in order because that’s what am most passionate about. I aspire to be wealthy by the time I turn 30 (just kidding, actually not really).

The life I want for my daughter and I is very expensive, so I  am prepared to work. I know that mastery sometimes demands blood, sweat, and tears . I also believe in finding joy in the little things.

THERE’S ALWAYS TWO SIDES TO A COIN

A healthy relationship for me is one where my significant other is comfortable enough to tell me the truth no matter how ugly. I like to be given the option to make informed decisions. I strongly believe assumptions ruin relationships more than the actual truth. My mum always said this “you don’t have to remember what you said if it was the truth”. I am mostly attracted to a polite person. A lot of people from this side of the world lack manners, so finding James was like hitting the jackpot
James was an amazing person. He was the “nice and outgoing” one in the relationship. On the day we met I was heading home after visiting a friend while he was coming from a weekly church service. We boarded the same taxi, he kept teasing me to smile more and we started a conversation. Before we parted ways, we exchanged numbers. He kept in touch and after almost a month of regular phone conversations, he asked me out on a beach stroll. He would always bring biscuits and juices because that was all he could afford then.

On the 4th date he finally told me he had something to say, I acted clueless even though I knew what it was and I had been waiting eagerly for that “something” to be said.

He told me he liked me, I blushed so hard I could remember it showed on my dark skin. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long and we broke up a short while after because he was always busy for reasons I didn’t know at that time (It was much later that he told me he had to focus on his final exams). But Fate stepped in again: two years after that we met again in a taxi and he never let me go again. We got married in June 2015.

IF WALLS COULD TALK 

Our Fairy tale / love story, however, had a short and unhappy ending. James passed away on the 7 September 2016, one month and four days away from his birthday, due to complications from sickle cell anaemia. I was devastated, my entire life crashed the very second it happened. We had only been married for a year and we had a ten-month-old daughter. I was only 23 years old.

I had never wanted to get married that early or to even have a child. I did it because it was all he talked about, he wanted to have a family before he turned 30, which he did not. I had families and friends around me, trying to make me laugh every day, it wasn’t working.

I needed to heal on my own and fast because I had become depressed with suicidal thoughts. I started going out to forget my pain, but every time I came back home, it felt like I picked them up at the door. So I started going out more and turned to alcohol to help me forget. I never wanted to come home sober, I was afraid I would hurt myself and my daughter didn’t deserve that. Eventually, I got tired of running away from my pain. I had to make some changes, I went out less, drank less. I had to face those demons and I am proud to say I beat them and I was ready to take care of my child and conquer the world.

My lifestyle after my husband passed away angered many. I had pictures taken of me secretly, for whatever reason.

At a point I thought I was the most talked about young woman in Sierra Leone. Rumour had it that I killed my husband because I wanted to live a “reckless” life with the money he left. I was judged because I did not grieve the “normal” way. I was labeled “the husband killer”. A lot of people who said they had my back after my husband’s passing stopped talking to me altogether. I never let rumors get to me and it certainly did not get to me then because I knew what I was doing was best for my daughter and me.

Grief is a relative term, do not let anyone tell you how to heal, they don’t feel your pain, they don’t understand what you’re going through. Do what’s best for you, as long as it brings you out of your misery.

I want to use my story to start a genotype awareness in Sierra Leone. Sickle cell in the western parts of the world is not as deadly as it is here and in some other developing countries.

There’s no cure for now but the plan is to reach as many people as possible. Getting them to know their genotype before deciding to have a child. This information will help someone make better choices in terms of relationships and make better decisions. 

Are you working on changing the narrative around sickle-cell anaemia in Sierra Leone ? Why don’t you can reach out to Augusta.

 

Written by: arianadiaries

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26 Comments

  • Patricia Jangah

    Just wow!

  • Jul T

    Hmmmm… Wow
    This is absolutely touching.
    Augur it is well, thank God you came out victorious and stay focus upon all the tribulations.

  • Claudette Frazer-williams

    Girl you are brave and the best mother Christine would ever wish for!! I deeply feel your pain and I pray God Grant’s you peace within. You are a strong woman and I deeply know that. God is one…….please please continue being you. Don’t change for anyone. Let them talk. Fo what’s best for you. Let God be the judge of your life and let Christine be a daughter of blessing to us. James would be watching and guiding you from heaven!! Love always …..Shuga…….

  • Hashimatu Isha Sesay

    Continue to be you sweetheart 💖
    It’s well Augusta 😭
    You’re such a strong woman 👸😊

  • Lucinda Kona koroma

    Hey,Augusta sevalie am proud of you darling and I was following up on you since you lost your husband.what you did had to go through was tough and am glad you conquered.Keep on soaring.You are an inspiration to many and especially I.

  • Precious Aretha Jah-Tucker

    Great piece met her once , never knew she had this going.
    Kudos to her

  • Yatiana

    A wonderful story

  • Gillian Katta

    you’ve always been an amazing soul

  • Salamatu turay

    Wow💔

  • Esther

    Inspiring indeed

  • Theresa Mansaray

    Your story is touching.may God continue to heal u.

  • Zainab Bayoh

    Very sad experience for you but am glad you get though it. thanks Ariana for sharing her story.

  • Jenny💯

    The departure of James left a whole in the hearts of so many people especially close friends and family 😥o am happy to read this piece and thank God for giving his wife the grace to endure every pain and live to give the testimony today😥May God continue to keep and protect you and your daughter 🙏🏻

  • Marina Sawyerr

    I shed tears after reading your story…..I’m so proud of you Augusta.Continue to be the woman you’ve always wanna become…..

  • Florella mamawa kamara

    Hmmm so touching but am glad you believe in yourself, and leave the rest for God my dear ,God got you my dear and he has a special plans for you in his heart.

  • Conrad Kamara

    I can fill your pains Augusta, thank God you are winning

  • Mamanasukanu

    My dear it is well

  • Zainab Sankoh

    May the good Lord continue to see you through,You’re indeed a strong women

  • Marjorie C. N. A . During

    Oooh can’t even explain how I feat reading

  • Lauretta Lansana

    Your story is so touching you are a strong woman who fight to move on despite the accusation posted at you.Thanks for such an inspirational talk which servers as an eye opener for all to know each other genotype .

  • Yasmin Jusu-Sheriff

    Wonderful Story. Raising 2 important issues- 1. Dealing with Bereavement & Widowhood; 2. Living with Sickle cell disease. Thanks Ariana.

  • Philip Thullah Jr

    Strong woman

  • Sia Foyoh

    Augusta you may not know you but i have always admired you getting married young and having a loving husband. I feeled your pain when he passed away and i know what you were going through. People will always find things to say but that has got nothing on us. You’re a strong woman and i know God will find a way to comfort you. My heart and prayer is with you and the kid. May James continue to rest in peace😪.

  • Sia Evelyn Nyandemo

    Your story is so moving. I did reach out to you on hearing your loss but never got any response but reading your story, i now know why i did not get response.
    I am here now in Sierra Leone and working on sensitisation of sickle cell blood disorder.
    Our organisation has being going on now for the past 11 years and we now have over 2,000 patients on our books in Kono where we are based. My reason to set up this org was due to our first hand experience with sickle cell. We lost two kids to this dreadful disease and have a surviving daughter now 37years.

  • Augusta

    It’s a good thing you’re doing, I’ll send you a private message.
    Thank you for reaching out then.