Cleveland Browns player Hakeem Adeniji and his wife, Kayla M. Adeniji, have announced that they are pursuing surrogacy as they heal from the stillbirth of their son.
The couple, who have been married since 2021, shared in November that their baby boy, Semiu Zade Adeniji, was stillborn six days before his due date. They grieved his death in a series of emotional tributes and over the past month, they have continued to keep fans and family updated through social media as the two navigate this challenging time.
On Dec. 3, the NFL star and his wife both provided another update on their Instagram stories, sharing that they are in the early stages of their surrogacy journey.
“Never have been someone to ask for help but here we are. Kayla and I have decided to pursue surrogacy as we think it’s probably the best way to feel somewhat normal as we don’t know when she can get pregnant again,” Hakeem Adeniji wrote.
He added, “We never expect anything from anyone, but if you’d like to help just know that we appreciate it more than you can imagine.”
The athlete went on to describe the difficult months his family has endured.
“This entire journey has been taxing in so many ways,” he said. “And assistance, even if it’s just sharing the link would be thanked and welcomed.
He again expressed gratitude for those who have supported his family and included the link for the couple’s GoFundMe page. The pair are hoping to raise $125,000.
When Hakeem Adeniji previously spoke about the stillbirth of his son in a video uploaded to Instagram Nov. 4, he explained that the couple had undergone “a long process with IVF.”
On the donation page, Kayla M. Adeniji opened up more about her grief and the IVF and surrogacy processes.
“On the night of November 1st, I went in to the hospital for reduced movement just out of caution and by 12am on November 2nd, I gave birth to my lifeless son,” she said. “While all of this has left us with empty arms, we are not giving up on the family (in) our hearts. I am currently in a postpartum body facing postpartum struggles with no baby to hold — no, ‘it was all worth it’ in my hands to ease the pain. Because of my procedure, we do not know when or even if I will be able to carry a child. This has led us to our next hope: Surrogacy.”
She noted that the next steps for her and her husband will be strenuous and that they need assistance.
“We still have plenty of embryos from our IVF cycle that we will be using when we are matched but the fees between surrogate compensation, agency fees, travel, surrogate screening, medication, support costs, insurance and attorney fees, are all greater than the number we are requesting,” she explained.
Kayla M. Adeniji also said that the couple are “matching” any donations they receive.
On her Instagram story, she linked to the donation site and reiterated her husband’s message that surrogacy will help them heal.
“With everything we have gone through, this is what is best for him and I both mentally and physically,” she wrote.
In another Instagram story, Kayla M. Adeniji continued, “Again, we expect nothing from anyone and if you know us then you know our hearts and you know we are just trying to get a healthy baby in our arms.”