Sister overcame her fear of needles to make a lifesaving gesture for her little brother
24.01.2022 - 12:55
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Donating blood is an altruistic gesture for anyone, but for Zenith Seyi-Abiodun it has a far greater meaning.
Her brother Charming, 16, suffers with the sometimes debilitating blood disorder, sickle cell disease.
He relies on the kindness of strangers for regular transfusions that have changed his life.
So when they were growing up together, Zenith always knew she would be first in line to donate blood when she turned 18.
But there was just one problem - her fear of needles.
The student, from Gorton, has never been keen on needles, even opting for nasal spray vaccinations.
But she has now overcome her nervousness and has even produced a TikTok video of the experience two convince others to do the same.
Zenith says will continue giving blood to thank the blood donors who are saving Charming’s life.
Seeing him go through sickle cell crises as he grew up was upsetting, she says.
“He would be sick every day and couldn’t play for more than a couple of minutes, it was hard for me to understand when I was young.
“It felt really good donating, I felt amazing to be able to make a difference to someone’s life and to help people like my brother, just like other donors have been so generous to my brother.
“More black people are needed to give blood, any of us could be in that position of needing blood.”
Usually it is Zenith at Charming’s side supporting him through his regular exchange transfusions.
But the siblings came together for Zenith’s first blood donation in a symbolic role reversal as Charming stood by in support.
“I am proud of my sister,” he said.
“To give blood shows kindness and love for others, to be able to help someone like me.”
Zenith wants to encourage more black people to help their family and the community by