On April 12, 2010, at the age of 57, Folashade Akiode became a mother of triplets, conceived through assisted conception, commonly known as Intro- Vitro Fertilisation at Nordica Fertility Clinic, Lagos. She was delivered of two girls (one named after her and the other, Esther) and a boy, at Isolo General Hospital. Unfortunately, she lost the boy 36 days after birth. He died in the hospital. Her journey to motherhood has been nothing short of inspiring. It is one of perseverance, which enabled her to surmount obstacles strewn before her.
The retired pharmacist recently celebrated her 70th birthday and she was beside herself with joy as she posed for photographs with two of the surviving triplets who are now 13 years-old.
Madam Akiode had at a point in her life thought that she would never carry her own child, but science proved otherwise and with God on her side, her fears were allayed. Unlike most people who had to try IVF about five or six times before being successful at conception, Mama Mary, as she is now called, only had to try once. Unfortunately, she had to go through the process all alone as a single mother since her husband opted out of the procedure, leading her to divorce him. Today she does not regret either divorcing her husband or conceiving by IVF.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
