Dera & Joy

My dear son, Uriel Chisimdi Chidera,

Happy Birthday, my precious boy.

As I write this message to you today, my heart is full in ways words may never completely explain. I look at you and I see more than a child. I see evidence of God’s mercy. I see strength wrapped in innocence. I see a testimony that began long before your first cry entered this world.

Before you were born, before we knew your face, before we held your tiny fingers, your mother and I already loved you deeply. You were prayed for. You were desired. You were spoken about with excitement and dreams. We imagined your laughter, your smile, your future, and the joy you would bring into our lives.

Then came the day that tested everything.

Your mother fell in the bathroom while carrying you in her womb. It was one of the most terrifying moments of our lives. The sound of her falling still echoes in my mind. Fear entered our hearts immediately because all we could think about was you. Her body hit hard, and your head struck the tiles while you were still inside her womb. In that moment, time stood still for us.

I remember the panic.
I remember the prayers.
I remember the silence between every heartbeat.
I remember wondering if everything we had hoped for was about to disappear.

We were afraid, son.
Very afraid.

There are moments in life when a man realizes how powerless he truly is. That was one of those moments for me. I could not protect you with my hands. I could not control what had happened. All I could do was cry out to God and beg Him to spare you.

When the scans were done, we prepared our hearts for bad news. We thought we might hear something terrible. We thought maybe you would not survive it. But then came the miracle that changed everything.

The doctors said you were perfectly fine.

Perfectly fine.

No damage.
No complication.
No tragedy.

You survived what we thought would destroy you before you even entered the world.

That moment changed us forever.

That is why we gave you the name “Chisimdi” — “God is alive.” Because only a living God could preserve a child in such a moment. Only God could protect you when we could not. Only God could turn fear into testimony.

Your name is not ordinary, my son.
Your life is not ordinary.
Your story is not ordinary.

You came into this world already carrying evidence of divine protection. Before your first step, God had already carried you. Before your first words, heaven had already spoken over your life. Before you opened your eyes to see us, God had already proven that His eyes were upon you.

And now today, watching you grow fills my heart with emotions I cannot fully describe. Every smile from you feels like a reward. Every laugh reminds me that miracles still exist. Every moment with you feels precious because we know how close we once came to losing you.

You may grow older and someday read this message as a man, but I need you to always remember something:

You were preserved for a reason.

Never doubt your worth.
Never doubt your purpose.
Never doubt God’s hand upon your life.

You are not here by accident.
You are not ordinary dust.
You are a child wrapped in grace.

As your father, I pray that your life will always reflect the greatness of the God who saved you before birth. I pray you become strong in wisdom, strong in character, strong in compassion, and strong in faith. I pray that wherever life takes you, you will never forget how deeply you are loved.

I pray that when storms come, you will remember that you survived one before you were even born.
I pray that when fear comes, you will remember that God defended you before you could defend yourself.
I pray that when life becomes difficult, you will remember that your story began with victory.

Thank you for bringing joy into our lives.
Thank you for making me a father.
Thank you for teaching me the true meaning of love, fear, prayer, and gratitude.

Sometimes I watch you quietly and realize that you will never fully understand how many tears were shed for you before you arrived. Tears of fear. Tears of prayer. Tears of relief. And now, tears of joy.

You are heaven’s gift to us.
You are our testimony.
You are our answered prayer.
You are our miracle child.

Happy Birthday, my son.

May God continue to preserve you.
May your light never go dim.
May your destiny never be cut short.
May your heart always know peace.
May your future be greater than every prayer we have prayed for you.

And whenever you hear your name “Chisimdi,” remember your story:
God is alive.
God preserved you.
God chose you.
And God will continue to walk with you all the days of your life.

I love you more than words will ever explain.

Forever proud to be your father.