When you hit rock bottom in life, it is not the end, it is just a bend.

I had the pleasure of interviewing a sickle cell patient who had been through the thick and thin in life. The job wasn’t coming because of her condition.

She had two options:

• She could either continue to endure and be limited due to her condition.
• Or take a bold step to rewrite her story by taking some intentional actions.

What did she do?

Let’s find out from the interview I had with her.

Can you tell us more about yourself?
My name is Zainab Ahmed Lukuta, the fourth child from a family of four children.

I did my Primary School education in Tanga Region, Tanzania. Later, I shifted to Dar es Salaam for my Secondary education.

I went to another region (Iringa) for my University studies where I studied Community Development Course at a degree level.

After my studies, I got married with two healthy boys.

I now run a business of Tea Spices which I am the founder and CEO. I also do motivational speaking to different groups of people.

It is great to have you in this edition. I came across your profile on LinkedIn and I just couldn’t look over it. Your profile stated that you’ve overcome some health challenges in the past and that has really motivated you in life. Can you share more about the health challenges?
Once again, thank you, Chinedu.

From my young age, I can remember not being so well. I used to be hospitalized with my mother and I had very poor attendance at school because of that.

When I started Secondary School, I was still getting sick but it wasn’t like before. Then when I was in Form Three, I got so sick that my blood dropped to 3, and I fainted for some days.

So they run a medical check up on me and discovered that I had Sickle Cell. The challenges of the Sickle Cell started showing since I was young but nobody thought it could be sickle cell.

That was really shocking. Were you able to trace how you got into this?
Of course, a person gets Sickle Cell genes from both parents. Both my mother and father come from families that carry the genes of Sickle Cell.

I am very sure that there are still some people who know little or nothing about this. Maybe if they read this interview, they will start considering genotype as the key factor in choosing a partner. Can you share some of the horrible challenges you went through?
Definitely, I’ll share those horrible experiences I had.

After I came out of the hospital, I started having so many pains as I was walking and the reason was the fluid on my hip joint dried and so the bones were grinding each other. The only thing I could take painkillers and other pills for adding blood.

I stayed with the pain until I finished Form six and joined the university. But before I sat for my University Examinations, I had to postpone it and go to the hospital for an operation on both of my legs. Where they cut my hip bones and removed the bone marrow. The reason they did that was to allow blood circulation through the hip bones.

I also used to feel so tired that I could not stand or walk for a very long time. That moment, I used to be very sad and emotionally weak. I found faults in everyone around me because I was in so many pains and I thought it was not fair. Why me?

Big question – Why me? Who would you have blamed for this?
Now, I blame nobody. Even before, I was just not a happy girl and I could not blame my parents for that.

I can imagine. Career wise, how did that affect you?
I was never employed in my life apart from the works I volunteered. I used to apply for jobs but I just didn’t get any.

It got to a time that I thought about stopping to send job applications because that operation I had was not successful and the pain was still there.

I just didn’t know how I was going to be able to be employed while I had so much pain.

Are you saying it was the sickle cell disease that has stopped you from getting a job or you weren’t just lucky to be shortlisted?
The challenge I got with my legs being in so much pain stopped me from applying. Although I did apply, I never got any, and it is because God wanted me to do something else with my life.

And what is that Zainab?
There are so many people in this world who are going through so many challenges every day and I believe that among many who also went through challenges, it’s my duty to remind those people to keep holding on and to learn from the challenges they go through because God gives us those challenges to learn and grow, and also to shift us to a higher place where we deserve to be.

I am now doing well after my last operation. They have kept an artificial hip bone on my left leg. The pain is gone and I am happy with my family.

You are happily married with two lovely kids. That must have taken an angel to stand by you in those trying times. What can you say about him (I mean your husband)?
He was brought to me for a reason, He is a very loving man. During those hard times, he was always there to support me. He challenges me to grow stronger every day. I thank God for bringing him into my life

One thing for people to understand and remember everyday is WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL.

Once we know this and recognize there is God, then we shall have fewer problems in our societies.

Let’s endeavor to work hard and pray because God listens.

I definitely agree. Can you tell us more about your business?
I do make tea spices. But in my spices, I have mixed with avocado seed flour and I have decided to make mine this way so they can help anyone who is going to use them.

I mix cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, clove and an avocado seed flour.

The seed of an avocado has more nutritional value but many people throw it away and just eat the avocado fruit. To simplify the use of the avocado seed, I have decided to come up with my own product of tea spice so people can enjoy tea but at the same time get the nutrients from an avocado seed. I am the CEO of Faryat Products.

That’s a great work, Zainab. How has your business being faring since you started and how many years now?
It’s less than a year since I started it and ts going okay but I still have work to advertise my business in order to let people know that my product is different from many others that are in the market. And also, how much my product can help People in solving different health issues.

Do you have a website?
I haven’t prepared one but I am working on it.

What support would you love to get for your business from the government or the audience reading this interview?
I would love to see the government giving support for start-up companies like mine, business education, financial education and also, to reduce the processes in registrations of business.

From the audience reading this, I would love to get your support by buying my product for your consumption.

In doing that, it will help me grow the business and also touch the lives of many youths out there by giving them jobs and motivating them to start something on their own.

What’s your advice for every sickle cell patient reading this interview?
Sickle Cell disease is just like any other disease or challenge anyone can have. But you should NEVER EVER give up on your life because of it.

Once you know you have it, follow what the doctors tell you. And never stop dreaming big because every one of us has a chance to grow and be whoever he or she wants to be.

Thank you, Zainab. It has really been nice chatting with you. I wish you sound health and success in all your endeavours.
Thank you so much, Chinedu, for giving me your time. I believe my interview will inspire someone who can bring a change into his or her life.

Definitely. Have a wonderful week ahead.
And you too my friend.

Religion is a very sensitive subject to discuss. People protect their religious beliefs with all their might. Some even go as far as killing and maiming because of it. As a result, people avoid raising matters related to any religious organisation, especially if the issues concerned are complaints. Maybe that is why a lot of atrocities are committed by some religious bodies that are supposed to provide succour for the over-burdened human race.

It is high time people started questioning inhuman doctrines practiced and imposed by their religion. I know some people have raised their voices to speak against some of these doctrines, especially when it pertains to finance, but the areas they point out aren’t actually the harmful ones. The areas that bother me most are the ones that trample on human dignity and rights.

For a long time now, stories on how religious leaders molest and abuse their followers kept filtering into different media channels. We see video clips on some outrageous practices in the name of healing and deliverance. We also receive news about the ways some of these leaders engage in human killings and sacrifices. These people take advantage of their followers’ predicaments to prey on them.

Sometime in September, Nigerians received shocking news about the discovery of a ‘torture’ camp in Kaduna, where about 500 men and boys were detained in a prison-like facility that was claimed to be a religious training school. Most of these young men recounted stories on how they were tortured and forced into homosexuality by their ‘captors’. Another camp like this was found less than a month later in Katsina, where another large number of men – both young and old – encountered the same nightmare as those found in Kaduna. Just a few days ago, another of these camps was discovered in Ibadan, making it obvious that practices like this exist in many parts of the country. For all these, it has become necessary that the conducts of these religious organisations should be monitored and regulated as soon as possible.

To start mentioning all the offences committed against human dignity by some of these religious leaders may take the whole day and still not be exhausted. But mentioning them isn’t the best way out because that won’t discourage their actions, nor prevent them from getting more victims because most of their ‘preys’ come from the poor and uninformed in the society.

So, what should be done to prevent these ills?

In as much as people see religious organisation as their way to a happy life in the hereafter, they should be made to understand that not every doctrine thrown their way comes from ‘revelation from above’. Some of these ‘beliefs’ projected by some of these leaders are selfishly motivated. And because they know that their followers won’t question their authority, they enforce them without consideration to their effects on people.

For that, I’ll suggest that the following be put in place:

• Prosecution of Offenders: Most times, religious leaders go scot free after committing certain crimes and offences. If these people start facing the music as every other citizen does, most of their atrocities will be eliminated. Another issue here is that the arrest and prosecution of religious leaders may bring up demonstrations and public disturbances from their followers. These followers may see the arrests as blasphemous and persecution of their faith. So, there is a need for application of more tact when dealing with offending religious leaders.
• Government Monitoring and Regulatory Agency: I don’t think there is any government established agency that monitors the activities of these religious organisations. Most of these religious houses have freehand with the way they run their activities – there is nobody to censor or checkmate them. I want to state the fact that because these people are handling citizens, government should establish agencies that will have the primary duty of regulating and monitoring the activities of these religious bodies. I believe that when they (the religious organisations) know that they will be questioned for whatever they want to do, they will be mindful of how they go about it.
• Religious Monitoring and Regulatory Bodies: It will be proper if these established religious organisations monitor what their members do. In fact, it will be improper if any religious house springs up without belonging to a higher body. Put differently, every religious denomination, sect or house that wants to register and operate within the country (if at all they do this), or to build it branch, must first register and identify with an umbrella religious organisation. This way, the lower houses will answer to and be regulated by the upper houses. If this is properly done, there will be lesser atrocities committed by the religious leaders.
• Community Monitoring and Regulatory Bodies: Communities should check on these houses springing up in their areas. They are even the best people to note what is going on in a church, mosque, temple or shrine. If they see questionable activities going on, they should alert the police or any other proper authority about them. Community members and leaders should be made to know that ignoring unlawful practices in these religious houses will affect them negatively. For that, they should take it upon themselves to fight believes and practices that go against their human dignity.
• Awareness Campaign: Because of the manner in which religious related matters are treated, a lot of victims of these atrocious religious leaders do not come out to express their experiences. Those that managed to do face a lot of negative reactions from people, especially from the followers of the leaders in question. But then, there is a need for people to know that it is not wrong to voice out certain practices that go against their human dignity. They need to be made to understand that they can seek redress when their priests, pastors or imams do things or carry out certain practices that affect them negatively.

In just a blink of an eye, I was struck from behind by a Chevy Blazer. At the point of impact my body flew over 30 feet through the air. Had I not been wearing full Motor-cross racing gear and a full-face helmet I am 100% certain that I would not be here today.

From becoming the first Canadian to complete a Double-Deca Triathlon—a grueling race equivalent to 20 Iron-man Triathlon races, to other incredible feats Shanda Hill’s ‘superwoman’ ability did not just come about by chance. Her journey is a remarkable one that will leave you in awe of how much pain she had to endure to get back on her feet.

Shanda Hill is an Ultra Triathlete. An Ultra Triathlete is anyone who competes in a triathlon longer than the standard Iron-man Triathlon. Shanda was born in Canada, and resides at the British Columbia. By relating to the events that unfolded later in her life, it becomes evident that Resilience is a factor that gives anyone the vigor to keep going.

Events Leading to the Accident

Prior to 2003 I was a nationally ranked BMX racer. On May 9th, 2003 I had been riding my BMX bike with one of my friends downtown at the Skate park and we decided to ride up to my parent’s home half way up Silver Star Mountain. This ride was not unusual for me as it was a terrific way to help my cardio and legs for racing. Everyone always says that in a moment your entire life can change and so often we float through our lives knowing vaguely that this is true, but never really understanding how true it can be. That moment came for me that day, in just a blink of an eye. From the reports given, I was in the bike lane riding slowly on a gradual uphill when I was struck from behind by a Chevy Blazer. At the point of impact my body flew over 30 feet through the air. Had I not been wearing full Motor-cross racing gear and a full-face helmet I am 100% certain that I would not be here today.

Luckily, my friend was trained in first aid and performed C-Spine Control to stabilize my neck and spine. 911 was called and an ambulance arrived within 7 minutes and I was taken to Vernon Jubilee Hospital. I was completely unresponsive but had a pulse and was still breathing. The first vague memory I have after the accident is how bright the lights were on the hospital ceiling. They seemed blinding and then everything went fuzzy again. Finally I was stabilized and began the recovery and healing process.

Road to Recovery

Oct 10th 2003, 5 months after the accident, I was scheduled for an MRI in Vancouver and a month later on Nov 10th 2003, I received the results back from my MRI that showed grey area in the frontal global area of my brain that showed a pool of dried blood indicating a traumatic brain injury. I was also healing from neck and back injury which I found debilitating day after day. In Nov 2003 my Doctor advised me to try to find work and I began helping out our local pool assisting the disabled in swimming techniques.

I always had continual headaches and back pain and hoped that being in the water would be a low impact way to help. It was not until Dec 16th 2003 That I was finally given a final diagnosis by Dr Maryinak, who was a Rehabilitation Specialist. He stated I had a fractured back and Post Trauma Brain Injury. He recommended that I have physio three times a week and it would take about 6 months for my back to properly heal. It seemed like such a break- through at the time to finally have a medical professional validate such a serious problem. It was not until Jan 15th 2004, 7 months after the accident that I was sent to Dr Spellacys, a Psychologist, to be tested in Victoria, B.C. He confirmed that I had a brain injury As a result of the Brain injury I sustained in the accident I suffered from many symptoms some of which included, high sensitivity to light, dizziness and swelling of the back of my neck and head. Extreme sensitivity to high frequency noise emitted by the television. Irrational, irritable and continual headaches. I had sticky fluid that came out of my eyes for weeks after the accident not just at night but throughout the day. I spent nights with an ice pack on the back of my neck just to be able to sleep, and to this day I still experience swelling, tenderness and headaches after running.

My behavior changed drastically. I would over-react. I suffered extreme mood swings and frustration over the littlest things that seemed so overwhelming. I had trouble reading and concentrating.My biggest frustration came in the way of extreme fatigue. All this time it had been my goal to race my BMX again, at any level, I struggled with imbalance and the claustrophobia of putting a full face helmet on and finally settled for a half face so I would be less nauseous. By 2008 I was by no means a Pro bmx’er again at a level I had previously enjoyed. But I was making improvements every day. I had continued to walk, partially to be able to say there was something I COULD DO but also because it gave me some kind of focus and seemed to help my overall well being.

The Journey So Far. . .

Flash forward to 2009, six years after my accident. I had heard a couple of girls in the sauna at the gym talking about how they had been training for a half marathon for the last six months. I thought to myself, that this was something that would be a good goal for me. I had no idea what I was doing or even how far a half marathon was, but talked my father into signing up with me and we finished together at 2:01:56. The pounding from the running not only swelled up the previously injured area in my neck but it gave me a wicked headache and I had to depend on a ice pack just to sleep at night.

I remember thinking maybe running wasn’t my thing after all. It was full on BMX season after that run at the start of 2009 and I had made a bigger goal, even though I was classified as an amateur racer I decided that I wanted to get an overall national #1 placing. I not only was able to qualify in the U.S.A. and earn a #2 National Age Class Ranking in BMX but take home the Canadian Overall National Title for the Women’s Cruiser Class. One of only four Overall National Titles given out in men’s and women’s classes each year. As time goes on I have never been pain free, but I do believe I have developed a higher tolerance for it. I contribute a lot of my recovery to a plant based lifestyle which has always helped reduce my inflammation.

Regular visits to the gym to build muscle in my back where I have scar tissue has been the key to living with pain. Spring 2010 came and I was encouraged to take up running again. I went out and ran 10km, this time a much more reasonable distance and only one ice pack was used that night. Training has never been my strong point so instead I signed up for every race in the Okanagan I could find. If 10km worked, why not twenty? 42? 50Km?

As a result of my injury I had a lot of people telling me I wasn’t capable of such things. 2010 was my first full year of running and I ran over 700 kms in races over a 7 month period, including my first Marathon ever and my first Ultra Marathon 50km. I was hooked. Since 2010 I have competed in over a hundred races. In July, 2016, I competed in the Oregon Double Anvil—2x Ironman distance and won 2nd female overall In Oct, 2016, I signed up for the Virginia Quintuple Anvil and won 1st female overall and 5th overall in men’s. I was the 1st Canadian female ever to complete and I hold the fastest quintuple female overall course run time record to date of 47:33:21 (closest female was over 5 hours behind) I didn’t stop there.

In August, 2017, I flew to Buchs, Switzerland, and competed in the Swiss Deca Ultra Continuous —10x ironman distance. I placed 2nd in the female overall. I was the 1st Canadian woman ever to complete a Deca (38km swim,100km bike, 422km run) Almost immediately after that in Oct 2017 I flew Virginia and competed in the Virginia Triple Anvil 3x Ironman distance and won 1st Female overall. I was scheduled to fly home 3 days after that race and a friend & mentor was begging me to come and compete at a 2nd Deca race in Leon, Mexico. An hour from flying home I called the race director for the World Championships Deca from the airport and told him that I wanted him to enroll me for the following weekend. Instead of flying home I pulled all of my gear off the plan and flew Mexico instead. In Oct 2017 I competed in that Deca and placed #1 overall female.

In 2017 I received a title of #1 out of 26 female Ultra athletes in the world by the IUTA I made a IUTA confirmed World Record as the first female to ever complete two Decas in a year (nevermind back to back in 2.5 months). In 2018 I went back to Switzerland and completed my 3rd Deca where I placed 1st overall female.

Reflections. . .

Everyone always says that in a moment your entire life can change and so often we float through our lives knowing vaguely that this is true, but never really understanding how true it can be. Shanda Hill, has now broken records becoming the first Canadian to complete a Double-Deca Triathlon—a grueling race equivalent to 20 Iron-man Triathlon races.

Here are some of her quote:

“Your focus each day is to get up and keep moving,” she said.

“I really like to know what are our limitations and I really think now that it’s limitless.”

It’s true that life is uncertain, and we can only make the best of it while alive. Still, it is never too late to push on no matter the obstacles that come our way. This story of Shanda Hill, is one that shows Resilience against all Odds.

Featured image: Shanda Hill, Cycling. Image Courtesy of JD.