Ife’s Story

Ifeoluwamayokun’s family left everything they knew behind in order to get him the support he needs. Today, their courage is paying off in ways they never imagined.

Ifeoluwamayokun, or Ife, was born with congenital hydrocephalus, a condition where fluid can build up in the brain and cause injury. At just two weeks old, he underwent surgery to have a shunt implanted into his brain to drain the excess fluid.

Ife responded well to the surgery and, for a while, his development seemed on track; he was able to sit up on his own, play in the bath, and recognize family members. But everything changed at 15 months when Ife struck a high fever in the middle of the night.

“We took him to the local children’s emergency room. They told us what medications we needed to buy and we got them,” shares Omobola, Ife’s mom. “Then they told us that Ife needed oxygen, but they didn’t have any available.”

Without oxygen, Ife fell into a coma and was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). It took three weeks for Ife to wake up and another 21 weeks before he was approved to go home—but it quickly became clear that the journey was far from over. “When we were being discharged from the hospital, I knew some things were not right. But I thought it might have been from all of the stress in the ICU,” recalls Omobola.

Omobola was informed that the lack of oxygen had impacted Ife’s brain, resulting in a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. She soon learned that his abilities had been severely affected—he could no longer sit up on his own, express himself verbally, or engage with the world the way he once had. He also began to experience seizures regularly.

Finding resources and opportunities for Ife would not be easy. “Back in my home country there is nothing available,” explains Omobola, “and there is a lot of stigmatization.” Omobola, her husband and two older daughters made the courageous decision to leave their home and move with Ife to find him the support he needs. “We left everything behind—our family, jobs, everything we knew—to go to a country that would give him a better life.”

When they arrived in Canada in 2023, Omobola purchased a standard stroller for Ife. But he was getting too large for the frame and it didn’t provide the support he needed to travel safely. Thankfully, his family applied for funding from Easter Seals Ontario to get Ife a specialized stroller, which has made a remarkable change. “The stroller has made life a lot easier for him. We can make him sit upright, we can recline him, and it has this beautiful harness on the chest that allows him to be secured in the chair. Now if he has a seizure, we know he is not going to fall.”

With his new stroller, Ife was able to start attending school earlier this year. “He is able to sit in his stroller on the school bus and it allows him to be easily moved from the classroom to get his diapers changed and so on.” The stroller has allowed Ife to engage with the world in away that once seemed impossible. “His class had an outdoor session one day and I saw pictures of him in the stroller with other kids playing in the field. His Educational Assistant (EA) was using the stroller to help him participate with the other kids running around… he is really enjoying school.”

This new level of participation has had a positive impact on Ife’s development. “Ever since he started school we’ve seen a tremendous improvement,” shares Omobola. “His social skills have increased. We can now play with him and get a response. And even though he doesn’t talk, he can communicate some of his needs—like if he is uncomfortable or has a wet diaper.”

While specialized strollers are essential for children like Ife, their high cost often creates a significant barrier for many families. “I remember seeing the receipt for the stroller and thinking, ‘There’s no way I could have saved up for that myself.’ With rent, caring for the older kids, and all the other daily expenses, it just wasn’t possible,” shares Omobola. “As a mom, I’m incredibly grateful for Easter Seals and this program. I truly appreciate everyone involved in providing this funding.”

For Omobola and her family, arriving in Canada was a pivotal moment. “I don’t know what life would have been like without being here. I am so thankful for the opportunity to come to Canada and for the chance for my son to have a better life,” she shares.

Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, Ife now has the tools he needs to participate more fully in the world around him, something his family once thought impossible. Your support not only provides life-changing equipment, but also brings hope and opportunity to families like Omobola’s, who are working tirelessly to give their children the best future possible. With your continued commitment, Easter Seals Ontario can help more children like Ife thrive. On behalf of Ife and his family, thank you for making a lasting impact on their lives.