‘Rock Bottom’, a book written by Tola Olatunji, will be launched today, May 4, 2024, at Horatio Marquee, Akhionbare Street, GRA, Benin City at 10.00am.
The launch is in partnership with Edo State Centre for Women and Youth Development. There will also be the unveiling of Rock Bottom Sickle Cell Initiative, an NGO founded by Olatunji. Rock Bottom Sickle Cell Initiative, to provide support for sickle cell warriors.
The special guest of honour at the launch event is the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki.
‘Rock Bottom’ is a memoir inspired by a personal experience as a sickle cell survivor especially from Olatunji’s last crisis, which was further complicated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bedridden for three months, the author escaped death by the skin of her teeth. The book raises awareness by offering eye-opening tips on sickle cell anemia, inspiring warriors of the disease and enlightening the public that being a victim of sickle cell isn’t a death sentence.
“In this tell-all book, Tola lays bare the struggles of sickle cell warriors, the UK medical system, the importance of family and friends and how much is hidden in the details of what is required to recover from a near-death experience,” the blurb indicates.
Olatunji, a property lawyer, shared her inspiration for writing the book and the reason for having the launch in the ancient Benin City, where she was born and raised.
“So, I wrote the book because I wanted to tell my story,” she said. “I decided to write the book while I was recovering from hospital. So they had discharged me and I thought, you know what, it’s good to tell my story, because it was a life-changing experience for me, and maybe somebody’s going through the same experience. This was in 2022, a few months after I got out of hospital.”
