I am a storyteller. Despite my affinity for quantitative research and the mathematical thrills that often accompany it, I so often enjoy good stories. Stories about shame and vulnerabilities, stories about limitations, struggles and courage and the stories of our lives we often hide from the world. To me, stories are data with a soul. […]
A Personal Reflection of Ephrance Nadongo’s Spina Bifida journey Read More »
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
Samara: The daughter who taught me patience, responsibility and love Read More »
The day my journey as a father took a different turn My son, Testimony, was born on 16 January 20007 at the Federal Medical Centre within the Railway Compound, Ebute Metta, Lagos, Nigeria. His birth was a wonderful moment for me. He was delivered through a Caesarean section, and I had the privilege of carrying
My son, my starboy: A father’s journey with Spina Bifida Read More »
I am the father of my nine-year-old son Omofolawe Adebayo Kasali. They told me before he was born that something was different. In that moment, fear tried to take over my heart. I wondered what kind of future my son would have. Omofolawe means a child who brings wealth and honor and that is exactly
Omofolawe: My experience raising a son with Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Read More »
I was born on the 15th of October 2002 to the family of pastor and pastor Mrs Oluremi Samuel at Ayinke House, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) where I was diagnosed with Spina Bifida and later referred to Lagos university teaching hospital (LUTH). Two weeks after birth, treatment on a full scale started. I
My bittersweet experience living with Spina Bifida Read More »
I am the last child of my mother. My parents made it clear they would never bubble wrap me or my siblings. While they cared deeply for their children and kept a close eye on them, they also made sure I must experience the same things of other children my age, even though I was
WSBHD2026: A lifetime of experiences growing up with Spina Bifida Read More »
My story is not a story of a life without hurdles. It is a story of moving forward when the road feels hard. It is a story of courage that grows in the quiet moments. It is a story of hope that refuses to fade. It is a story of dreams that will not be
My story: Hurdles, Hope, and a Heart that will not give up Read More »
Being born in the 1960s in Nigeria is peculiar because that was the period the country gained its independence after many years of colonial rule under the British. It was a period of new beginnings and the unknown, and one of such people born in that era was Olufunke Ogunrombi. Born on January 3, 1965,
In an earlier article about Samara Funmilayo, her parents never thought a life-long neurological condition like Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (SBH) would come the way of their daughter and first child. That was pretty much the same expectation of Mr Oluwaseun Adesina, a realtor, and Mrs Christiana Adesina, a hair stylist, when their first child
How brilliant 14-year-old Opeyemi is defying the odds living with Spina Bifida Read More »
At only two days old, I had to begin my first life through the walls of the surgical theatre because of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. I was just a fragile little baby girl whose parents had no idea of how life will turn out especially since there was less knowledge was available by that time
Ephrance’s journey in defying the odds against Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Read More »
