Nigeria, March 10 -- Ms. Anunobi, 60, was married to Charles Ekwu from 2000 to 2006. She said she was the sole provider throughout the marriage, paying for rent, daily expenses, and her son's medical care. She recalled ignoring her parents' warnings about her husband.

"He's the same person who said he would be there with me through thick and thin. I was the one paying the rent, I was the one doing everything. Charles never brought one naira. When I started the battle of my life, Charles turned," Ms. Anunobi said.

She explained that both she and Mr. Ekwu carried the AS genotype, and that their son inherited sickle cell disease. She described how she managed Raymond's care alone after Mr. Ekwu left the family.

Raymond died on 22 August ...