Naomi’s Story, Part 2: When We Learned About Her Eye

After the struggle with Naomi’s shoulder at birth, life slowly settled. As new parents, we were learning step by step, enjoying every moment with our beautiful first child. We thought the hardest part was behind us.

But as time passed, we began to notice something different about her eyes. At first, we told ourselves it was nothing serious, something that would improve as she grew. When Naomi turned one, during a hospital visit, the doctor examined her and said it was a “lazy eye” that would correct itself.

We felt some relief then. The first optician we met even recommended glasses. We held on to that hope, believing that once she wore them, everything would be fine. But the glasses never worked.

We tried again and again to book appointments at the general hospital. Long queues, lack of specialists, and the weight of life in Lagos as a young couple made it all so overwhelming. Still, we carried on, hoping for change.

By the time Naomi turned two, our worries grew heavy. She still could not see clearly. She had to move very close to recognize objects. She could not identify us from just 10 feet away. While walking, she often bumped into objects. When running, she would hit things. Each time, our hearts broke. Watching her struggle with something as simple as walking safely was more painful than we could bear.

I could not keep quiet anymore. I spoke to one of my senior colleagues at work. With concern, he listened as I explained the pain my wife and I were carrying and our deep fear about how Naomi would cope when school started. He gave me the contact of a doctor at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, one of the best teaching hospitals in Nigeria.

The very next day, we set out early in the morning. At 5 a.m., my wife, Naomi, her little sister Olive, and I left Lagos for Ibadan. The journey was long, nearly 130 kilometers, and traffic delayed us until about 10 a.m. When we arrived, we registered and waited with anxious hearts. Around 1 p.m., we finally met the specialist.

She examined Naomi carefully. The first machine showed nothing. Then she used drops to dilate Naomi’s eyes. The drops stung, and our little girl cried uncontrollably. Watching her cry in pain tore us apart, but we held her close and calmed her until she was ready again.

Later, in a dark room, the specialist revealed what she had seen. She told us she had never seen a case like Naomi’s before. She called in three senior opticians to look again. Together, they explained that the back of Naomi’s eyes had not formed properly before birth.

In that moment, my world stopped. I had believed they would simply prescribe glasses to fix her vision, or at worst, suggest a minor surgery. Instead, the doctor told us no glasses could correct her sight, only support her a little.

She showed us images of what a healthy eye should look like, and then what Naomi’s looked like. The difference was clear and painful to see. She asked if we had any family history of eye problems. We said no. None of our families had ever faced this.

I was frozen with shock. My wife sat quietly, holding Naomi tightly. Inside, I wanted to cry, but I could not. I needed to stay strong for her, for both of them. I carried the weight of silent tears that day.

As parents, nothing prepares you for a moment when doctors tell you your child will live with something no treatment can fix. All I could think of was her future, her schooling, her dreams. I feared what life would mean for her. Yet when I looked at Naomi, I saw the same brave, beautiful girl who smiled at us from the beginning. She was still full of life, still full of strength.