Diary of a Beautiful Special Needs Sibling

You wouldn’t believe that three weeks before my event, I told God, “It’s okay. Ah-ha, what did I ever do to you? I’m tired of life.” Tough times, or rather, dramatic times if you know me well. And I barely had 15,000 naira for the event. Now, let’s get into how God showed up for me, changed my belief in ‘prayer’, and how purpose isn’t always the smoothest thing, like most people think. But first, I missed you guys, and I know you missed me too. A whole 4 weeks without hearing from me? Child, be comforted, for I am here. For those who don’t know, I host an annual event for my foundation focused on special needs. Every year, I open it up for donations because God can use anyone, plus my salary is still a gift from God. Every year, the event happened miraculously, and it was all due to God’s providence and the people He sent to me. In 2025, as I thanked God for my recently concluded event, He gave me an idea for the next one. I was getting ready for the evil called NYSC; I was tired and n...

It cost an arm and a leg to raise a child with a disability. I would know because I have experienced this firsthand. While we may talk about the emotional part of taking care of a child with special needs, we also need to talk about the financial frustrations in raising them. From therapy sessions to adaptive equipment, the expenses often stretch far beyond what many families can comfortably afford. It makes me think of families who are impoverished and have nothing to support their children on a regular basis. How do they handle this?  When it comes to doctor visits, children with disabilities often require frequent medical attention, including specialized treatments that they cannot just get anywhere.  Many conditions require long-term medications, surgeries, or assistive devices, all of which add up quickly to the fees that parents or caregivers have to pay.  It can be a lot. For example, a child with cerebral palsy may need physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupa...

  If I had to sum up last month, it would be about caregiving and how much it honestly scared me. If you didn’t already know, I have a brother with Autism, he’s my world. Last month was Autism Awareness Month. While many posted about awareness or inclusion and called out those who mocked people with disabilities, I was focused on my life and how caregiving was slowly getting into the picture. I thought about the daily commitment, the fears, and the responsibilities of loving and supporting someone with special needs. And for a long time, I found myself terrified.  Cue the horror music. My brother is going to be 25, and while I thank God for his life, it also makes me think about milestones, what he hasn’t done yet, what he’s doing now, and what life could be like in the next few years. A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with my dad, and for the first time, he was vulnerable and opened up,” What happens when I die?” As usual, as the priest in my home, I encouraged him: “ We ...