Naomi’s Journey

  Naomi was in Year 3 when she first settled into school here in the UK. She adjusted quickly and began doing well in her class. When she came home she enjoyed doing her assignments and often started them on her own. Her classroom used tablets and computers, which helped her because she could zoom in and read comfortably. I also bought her a tablet at home and we learned together. We regularly visited the library to choose books she liked, and she developed a strong love for reading.She also joined different after-school clubs. She loved them. She enjoyed singing and took part in small performances. She tried acting and would come home excited to tell us what she practiced. She even started writing her own stories and adding drawings to them. Seeing her happy and expressive was something I had prayed for. In 2023 we attended her hospital appointment. After a full examination she was formally diagnosed with Coloboma and other visual conditions. The doctors explained her eyes do not...

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 coul...

  After what happened at her school, we could no longer trust the system with her again. We searched for help but found none. There was no government support, no NGO, and no awareness around Coloboma. We were left alone with our situation. There was little medical guidance and no real understanding of her condition. We lived in isolation with the problem. In 2020, when COVID kept children at home, it unexpectedly helped Naomi. My work as an IT infrastructure allowed me worked remotely for almost a full year. For the first time I was with her every day. I saw how she learned, how she read, how long it took her eyes to focus, and how much patience she needed. It changed me as a father. We organised proper homeschooling for her. I hired a private teacher and added an online tutor. I also sat with her myself, reading slowly with her, explaining step by step, adjusting lighting and distance so she could see clearly. Gradually her confidence returned. She became calmer and no longer afra...