My daughter, Samara, was born on the 16th of January, 2014 and her arrival changed our lives forever.
Her journey began even before she was born. During my pregnancy, my husband and I attended a private hospital in our area. At the time, we were told that the baby I was carrying was a boy and that everything was fine. We had no idea of the challenges that lay ahead of us.
However, when I was eight months pregnant, we registered at Isolo General Hospital. It was there, through a scan, that we discovered that the baby I was carrying had a condition called Hydrocephalus.
That news was heartbreaking and frightening. So many questions filled our hearts. What would happen to our baby? What would her future look like? How would we cope with something we knew so little about?
But even in the midst of our fear, God had given me a partner who stood firmly beside me. I will never forget my husband’s words. He told me, “Don’t worry. We are in this together. God, who blessed us with this child as our firstborn, knows that we can bear it. That is why He gave her to us.”
Those words gave me strength when I needed it most. They reminded me that we were not alone and that, no matter what lay ahead, we would face it together. But the biggest surprise came on the day I gave birth.
We already knew about the Hydrocephalus, but we did not know that Samara also had Myelomeningocele, a severe form of Spina Bifida. It was only after her birth that we discovered this condition.
Our lives were completely changed. The future we had imagined suddenly looked different, and the journey ahead seemed overwhelming. We had to learn about conditions we had never expected to face and how to care for a child with complex needs. Yet, in the middle of all these challenges, Samara became a source of joy to us as her parents and to the people around us.
Her care has never been easy. It requires patience, commitment, sacrifice, and constant attention. There have been difficult days, moments of worry, and times when I have had to gather strength even when I felt exhausted. But through it all, God has continued to give us the grace to keep going.
One of the greatest turning points in our journey was meeting Festus Fajemilo Foundation. Through the foundation’s Clean Intermittent Catheterisation (CIC) and Bowel Washout training, we learnt important skills that helped us understand how to care for Samara’s needs.
That knowledge changed so much for our family. It gave us greater confidence and helped us support Samara in living a fuller life. Today, Samara can go to school like her peers. She is also a wheelchair basketball player, showing us that having a disability does not mean a child cannot learn, participate, dream, or discover her abilities.
And that is one of the most beautiful things about Samara: she continues to remind us that a diagnosis is not the end of a story. Samara has taught me lessons I could never have learnt from a book.
She has taught me patience — the kind of patience that keeps going even when things are difficult, when progress takes time, and when every little achievement requires enormous effort.
She has taught me responsibility. Caring for her has made me more intentional, more organised, and more committed. I have learnt to pay attention to details, to keep showing up, and to understand that love is not only something we feel; it is also something we do every single day.
She has taught me the meaning of unconditional love. A love that does not depend on circumstances, abilities, or expectations. A love that accepts, protects, encourages, and keeps believing.
Most importantly, Samara has taught me that I must be patient, loving, and present — not just for her, but in every part of my life. She has changed the way I see people, the way I understand challenges, and the way I appreciate the little things that many of us take for granted.
I have learnt to celebrate the small victories because I understand that sometimes, what looks small to another person is a very big achievement for a family like ours.
Looking back, I know our journey has not been easy. There have been tears, fears, sacrifices, and lessons. But there has also been joy, support, growth, and countless reasons to be grateful.
I am grateful to God for Samara. I am grateful for my husband, who reminded me that we would face this journey together. I am grateful for everyone who has supported our family, and I am especially grateful to Festus Fajemilo Foundation for the knowledge and guidance that have helped us care for our daughter.
To every parent raising a child with a disability, I want you to know that you are not alone. Your journey may look different from the one you imagined, and there may be days when you feel overwhelmed. But your child is more than a diagnosis. Your child deserves love, dignity, opportunities, education, friendship, and the chance to discover their own abilities.
Samara’s story is still being written. She has already taught me so much, and I believe there is still so much more to learn from her. She is my daughter, my teacher, my source of joy, and one of the greatest lessons God has given me in patience, responsibility, courage, and love.
May God continue to strengthen us, guide us, protect Samara, and make her journey a source of inspiration and hope to other families. This is Samara’s story. This is our journey. And by the grace of God, our story continues.