Naomi’s Journey

On March 11, 2015, my wife Treasure and I welcomed our first child, Naomi, in Lagos, Nigeria. Holding her in my arms was one of the happiest moments of my life. She was strong, beautiful, and full of promise. Her name, Naomi, was chosen with purpose. To us, it means delight and blessing. She was the beginning of our family’s story, and from the start she showed a strength that continues to inspire us. Her birth was not as we expected. She weighed over 5kg, and complications meant the doctors had to assist with delivery. In the process, her shoulder was dislocated. We did not know immediately. After 48 hours we noticed something was wrong and asked the doctors. That was where her first journey of pain began. At just four days old, Naomi’s tiny shoulder was put in a cast by a child orthopedist. Every visit was painful to watch. My wife and I cried many times, and some days I could not bear to take her back because I did not want to see her cry again. Still, we pushed forward. Even in ...