NFL player Hakeem Adeniji and his wife, Kayla, are grieving the loss of their first child after their son, Semiu Zade, was stillborn.
The Cleveland Browns’ offensive tackle shared the news in a heartfelt video on Instagram. He explained that Kayla was rushed to the hospital November 1 after she was unable to feel the baby move that evening.
"It was the worst moment of my life. Everybody that knows me knows how bad I wanted to be a dad," he said, mentioning that Semiu Zade was delivered just six days before his due date. "It’s the worst pain in the world. I can’t describe it to anybody."
Adeniji said he and Kayla were able to hold their son, and although it was a brief moment, they will never forget him.
"He’s going to live on in our hearts forever," he added.
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The video was Adeniji’s first Instagram post since May, when he and Kayla joyfully announced their pregnancy with a series of images of the couple on the beach.
Kayla shared her own sorrow in a similar post, confirming Semiu Zade was delivered on November 2, the day after she was admitted to the hospital.
"We had to say goodbye to the most perfect, beautiful boy I’ve ever seen," she wrote alongside photos of her and her husband in the delivery room. "He got us through so much this year and stayed so strong for us for so long. I will always remember holding him and smelling him. He was just perfect."
Adeniji took to social media to express his gratitude to fans for their support in a heartfelt note that appeared alongside photos of him and Kayla holding their son in a hospital bed.
"As we continue with life, I don’t want anyone to treat me any different than before, or feel like they can’t say certain things around me," he wrote. "I still love kids and still want to [be] happy for all my friends in their good moments. I know my little soldier is up there watching us and giving us strength."
"I still want to be a dad more than anything else in this world, and he gave me that even though it was short-lived," he continued. "When and if I ever get that opportunity again, I’ll never take a day for granted."
Adeniji, originally from Texas, and Kayla have been married since 2021.
