Kenya, Sept. 14 -- For years, James, now 34, carried a burden that gnawed at his identity as a man. Married at 29, he and his wife dreamed of a bustling household filled with the laughter of three or four children. But as the years passed-one, two, then three-their dream remained unfulfilled, replaced by silent tears and probing questions from friends and family: "Bado hamjapata mtoto?" (Still no child?)
The couple's hope led them to a fertility clinic in Nairobi, where James faced a devastating truth. After extensive tests, the doctor delivered a crushing diagnosis: "James, your results show zero sperm count." The words echoed like a verdict, stripping away his dreams of fatherhood and leaving him grappling with shame and self-doubt. "It felt like I was less of a man," James recalls, his voice heavy with the memory. "I had no control over it, but the weight of those words broke me."
For months, James and his wife navigated a storm of emotions-grief, frustration, and societal pressure. In Kenya, where family and lineage are deeply valued, infertility often carries a stigma that isolates and wounds. Yet, they refused to give up. Supported by their unwavering bond, they explored medical options, from treatments to alternative paths like adoption. Continue reading.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.