Joy Eseogbene Odiete, also known as Jodie has voiced out about the suffering she had to face to ensure that her child is not deprived of anything in l
Joy Eseogbene Odiete, also known as Jodie has voiced out about the suffering she had to face to ensure that her child is not deprived of anything in life despite his disability.
In an open letter she posted on her Instagram handle, she revealed that she had to hawk beaded jewelry, sell hair care products, beg and borrow to care for her child.
She further revealed that some strangers had advised her to kill her son due to his disability.
Jodie used to be married to actor, David Nnaji until the marriage began to experience hiccups after she birthed her son who has cerebral palsy. The marriage eventually ended less than two years after it was contracted.
“This message is for the King’s, Queen’s, Men, Women of substance in Nigeria. This message is for the sons, daughters, security agent, and concubine. Anybody the King and Queen has a soft spot for their opinions. I would have paid a media crew to make a compelling and attractive video but, please forgive me, I cannot afford it.
“I am a lazy person, I sang a song Kuchi Kuchi in 2010 which Kings and Queens have listened to and enjoyed. I am using the soft spot that the song may have created to make this appeal.
“In the past 6 years, I have hawked beaded jewelry in offices like Total, Noah’s Ark, DDB. I have sold hair products. I have begged, I have borrowed. Nigerians are kind. Even Bellanaija sent me 100k. I have been a beneficiary of Air Peace’s Thursday session with the chairman as a social responsibility to the less privileged eseveral Times.
“The truth is, I am a nobody, but I was inspired years ago to sing a song even when I didn’t know myself- a song that still resonates till date. Who knows? Maybe the essence of the song was not for my popularity but to respond to the silent cries of mothers who gave birth to special needs children. Maybe, it’s essence is to speak for the blood of the special needs children that have been spilled in secret by helpless mothers who did not know what else to do.
“I know this because some strangers have advised me to kill or abandon my son because such children are sent to swallow up finances.”
Further speaking in the challenges she has faced in the past six years she stated “My finances have been swallowed. My friends have abandoned me because I am a beggar. My debts are new every morning. But I am a mother who will die first before her son does not eat.
“Special needs children do not eat normal food. Special needs children need a lot of medical and emotional care. They need the help of a well established world class organization because it is not their fault that they are born that way.
“In my own case, the hospital I had my son in had a hand in it. I blame myself for not using a general hospital. It is past. There is nothing I can do about it. I was unable to stay in a relationship because my soul is shattered, I am a wounded animal but love still lives in me.”
She called on Nigerians to rise up to her call so that children with special needs can be well catered for.
