Veteran Nollywood actress and evangelist, Eucharia Anunobi has disclosed that she and her ex-husband, Charles were aware they were both AS (sickle cell carriers) before getting married.
Speaking during a recent interview on The Honest Bunch podcast, Anunobi also opened up about the painful collapse of her marriage to her ex-husband, revealing that he abandoned their family after their son was diagnosed with sickle cell disorder.
According to her, she had initially considered ending the relationship after discovering their genotype compatibility, but Charles persuaded her to continue, assuring her of his support.
Anunobi alleged that her husband became distant and unsupportive following the diagnosis. She claimed she shouldered the household’s financial responsibilities, including rent, medical expenses, and other bills.
She further alleged that in November 2006, when their son was four years old, her husband moved out of their home, stating he could not cope with raising a child with sickle cell disorder. According to her, he never reached out afterwards to check on their son.
Despite the challenges, Anunobi said she devoted herself to caring for her child. She revealed that she explored the option of a bone marrow transplant abroad but was discouraged due to medical risks and other requirements.
Returning to Nigeria, she focused on managing her son’s health carefully, noting that he avoided certain activities and maintained strict routines to reduce crises.
The actress described the experience as one of the most painful periods of her life, maintaining that she did everything within her power to save her son.
In her words: “Before I got married to Charles, my ex-husband, we discovered we were both AS. I wanted to end the relationship but he convinced me that he would be there for me.
“We got married, and we had a boy. Just before he clocked one, he fell ill, and the doctor said he was SS. That was when the battle of my life started.
“Charles turned against his own son. I was the one paying the rent and all the bills in the house, but I still held on to the marriage. I had two maids.
“Whenever I went out, and our son had a crisis, Charles would just abandon him. I spent millions on hospital bills, Charles never dropped N1.
“On November 26, 2006, I went to work, and my son was 4 years old. Charles’ cousin, Nonye was living with us then and she called me that my husband had moved out of the house, he said he couldn’t deal with a child that was SS.
“For two years, I never removed his pictures and clothes. Since he left, he never called to check on his son. I did everything to save my son
“I travelled to Ireland. I wanted to do a bone marrow transplant for him, but the doctor said he could become a vegetable, and moreover, he needed a sibling, so I went back to Nigeria and started researching how to take care of a child with sickle cell.
“I spent millions on him, he never went outside after 5pm, he never drank pure water. From 7 years to 14, he never had a crisis. When he was 14, I saw that his foot was swollen. I took him to the hospital and the doctor said he had a water retention and he needed surgery or they would give him some meds and injection for 21 days.
“I made sure he never missed his injection. After 21 days, the thing disappeared. When he was 16 years, I took him for his regular checkup and the doctor asked if he ever did a blood transfusion and I said yes, when he was 3.
“So the doctor advised he should get a blood transfusion. He instructed his student doctor to do the blood transfusion but he did blood extraction. He removed 3 pints of his blood. My son turned yellow and had jaundice. He was rushed to the ICU, and he passed away on Aug 22, 2017.”