Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Hakeem Adeniji, 26, is grieving the unimaginable loss of his baby boy, Semiu Zade Adeniji, who was stillborn just days before his expected arrival.
The football star shared the heartbreaking news on Monday, November 4, posting an emotional video on Instagram to announce that he and his wife Kayla had tragically lost their first child.
In the raw and tearful Instagram Reel, Hakeem explained how the devastating news came six days before Semiu’s due date, when a routine ultrasound confirmed that their baby no longer had a heartbeat.
“It was the worst moment of my life,” he shared, deeply emotional. “Everybody that knows me knows how bad I wanted to be a dad.”
A week after the loss, on November 11, Hakeem posted a series of tender photos on Instagram of himself and Kayla cradling baby Semiu in the hospital, holding onto the precious moments they had together.
Alongside the photos, Hakeem Adeniji shared a heartfelt message written in his phone’s notes app.
He reflected on the pain and finality of the loss, writing, “It’s been a little over a week since we lost our boy. There’s been anger, sadness, and emptiness. The fact that he is gone has set in now, and nothing can change that.”
In the message, Hakeem expressed his grief over never being able to watch his son grow up or share the journal he’d been writing for him.
“I miss him and I’ll miss him every day for the rest of my life,” he continued.
Hakeem also conveyed his enduring desire to be a father, saying, “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. When and if I ever get that opportunity again, I’ll never take a day for granted. I love my boy, and he will live through us.”
Kayla Adeniji also shared her own memories on Instagram, posting additional hospital photos and an emotional message dedicated to her son.
“We lost our son. We had to say goodbye to the most perfect, beautiful boy I’ve ever seen,” she wrote, describing Semiu’s soft curls, his dad’s nose, and his big hands. “He will always be my son, and I will always be his mom.”
Reflecting on their journey, Kayla described her son as her strength, sharing, “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. Oh, my sweet boy, mommy and daddy will always smile when we think of you, I promise. Please look out for us, my angel 🪽.”
The couple shared that baby Semiu was born on November 2, weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces, and measuring 21 inches long. His due date was November 7.
A few days later, Kayla posted a moving video of herself holding Semiu for the first time.
“The moment I held him for the first time ❤️ I couldn’t believe how beautiful he was,” she wrote.
“I dreamt of seeing his face for so long. I dreamt of this moment for years. It just felt like he was taking a nap in my arms; he looked so peaceful.”
On November 7, the couple decided to honor what would have been Semiu’s birthday.
Kayla shared their plans to create new family traditions in memory of their son, explaining, “The Lion King was Hakeem’s favorite movie, and he always talked about how he couldn’t wait to watch it with our son. So we will do exactly that and remember our brave little boy.”
In her final words, Kayla shared a loving promise to her son, “Until I can hold your hand again, son, I love you.”
The Adeniji family’s loss is a heart-wrenching reminder of the preciousness of life and the depth of a parent’s love, even when a child’s time here is brief.
My sincerest condolences go out to Kayla and Hakeem Adeniji. Please join me in covering them in prayer.
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