All Set For The Altar, But Her Genotype

Dear Agatha, 

First, I would like to thank you for the way you respond to other people’s problems. And I pray God Almighty continues to bless you and your family as well as give you more wisdom in Jesus name.

I’m one of your numerous readers and have a very big problem eating me up. I would like you to help me sort the problem out as early as possible. 

I’m a 29-year-old orphan from a family where I have no sibling. Recently, I travelled to the village and one of my aunts told me about a girl she would like me to get married to. When I saw her, I felt madly in love with her and immediately promised her marriage, because I saw in her all I have lost in life: father, mother, brother, sister and dear wife. 

I even went ahead to pay her bride price. But before doing so, I demanded to know what her genotype is, and she told me, ‘AA.’ I didn’t have any reason not to believe her.  When we came down to Lagos, she went for another test, which puts her as being ‘AS’ and not ‘AA’ as earlier thought.  

I knew she must have made a mistake the first time. I was naturally devastated, but decided to keep the result to myself for some days before telling her what the result was. 

The major challenge is that we have fixed both the traditional and white weddings for Easter period and that she is carrying my baby inside of her. 

Please do help me, and advise me on what to do. I am ‘AS’ and would also like to find out if there is any side effect to it.

Worried Man. 

Dear Worried Man, 

Your options are limited by the fact of her being pregnant. And having paid her bride price, she is already your wife under the customary laws of our land. Whatever you plan to do at Easter is only a necessity, because you have done the important thing of meeting her people and paying her bride price. 

As it is now, the best place to go is to the hospital where the doctors are best equipped to counsel you on the best options available to you. It would have been a different matter if she were not already pregnant. Since there appears to be confusion as to her actual genotype, she may be sent in for another test to determine what her actual genotype is.  

In the event that she remains AS, modern science has made it possible for doctors to determine the genotype of the baby in the womb. If the baby is SS, the doctors and parents can agree on what is the most reasonable thing to do if the pregnancy is still in its early stage. 

Whichever way it turns out nothing can be done, modern science too has made the management of sickle more manageable than it was in those days of ignorance. 

Like I said, the doctor is in the best position to proffer the most reasonable medical solution. 

Good luck.