Popular Nigerian comedian, MC Mbakara, and his wife, Lolo Mbakara, have publicly disclosed the circumstances surrounding their daughter’s nine-year battle with severe cerebral palsy, attributing the condition to a lack of oxygen at birth.
In a heartfelt video released on MC Mbakara TV on Saturday, the couple recounted the traumatic events that accompanied the delivery of their daughter, Eke Mama, who was born on October 19, 2016.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), cerebral palsy (CP) is a brain disorder that manifests in infancy or early childhood and permanently affects body movement and muscle coordination. The disorder, which may arise before, during, or shortly after birth, often results from oxygen deprivation, bleeding in the brain, or disruptions in brain development, leading to impaired motor and cognitive functions.
Recalling the incident, Lolo narrated that what began as a routine delivery soon turned catastrophic when their newborn failed to breathe moments after birth.
“I went into labor, and when it was time to push, the baby got stuck,” she said. “When the baby came out, she wasn’t crying or breathing. They called for oxygen, but there was none in the hospital.”
In desperation, hospital staff reportedly attempted to improvise with an empty oxygen tank containing water, an act that proved futile. The couple was then forced to transport the infant to another facility, a journey that lasted over thirty minutes.
“By the time we reached the teaching hospital, it was already too late. She was placed on oxygen for nearly two weeks,” Lolo recounted.
Doctors later confirmed that the prolonged oxygen deprivation had caused severe brain damage, resulting in cerebral palsy.
The couple further revealed that a medical acquaintance had suggested discontinuing life support to “avoid a lifetime of stress,” but they declined on moral and parental grounds.
“One of my husband’s friends advised that we take off the oxygen mask and let her rest,” Lolo said. “But as parents, we couldn’t do that.”
Now nine years old, their daughter remains in a vegetative state, with Lolo emotionally stating that she has “spent 95 percent of her life sleeping.”
Despite enduring emotional and financial strain, the couple said their faith and resilience have sustained them. They also lamented the stigma and online ridicule they faced from individuals who accused them of hiding their child.
“People can be cruel,” MC Mbakara said. “We weren’t ashamed of our daughter. We simply refused to expose her to pity or mockery.”
In response to their experience, the Mbakaras established the Aya Kanu Aya Foundation, an initiative aimed at promoting awareness of cerebral palsy and supporting families raising children with developmental disorders.
“Too many people still believe these children are bewitched or cursed,” Lolo explained. “It’s ignorance — and that ignorance must end.”
The comedian emphasized that the foundation would provide education, advocacy, and material support to affected families, drawing from their own difficult journey.
“We know how draining it can be — financially, emotionally, physically,” he said. “We want other parents to know they are not alone.”
The couple also expressed profound gratitude to MC Mbakara’s mother for her unwavering support in caring for their daughter.
“She has been our greatest pillar,” MC Mbakara said. “Without her help, we would have been completely exhausted. We thank God for her and for our daughter’s life.”
Their story serves as a powerful reflection on the realities faced by many Nigerian families coping with cerebral palsy, and a clarion call for greater public education, medical accountability, and social inclusion for children with special needs.#newsafro_
