Media personality Jeff Koinange and his wife, Sonia, courageously shared a profoundly personal and emotional journey detailing their struggle with infertility.
In a poignant episode of the Engage Talk Show, Jeff recounted a transformative moment that left an enduring impact on his life. The significant day involved meeting the iconic Nelson Mandela at a press conference. Mandela, recognizing Jeff’s lineage, revealed that Jeff’s grandfather had held the esteemed position of chief.
However, what truly resonated with the audience was Jeff’s subsequent heartfelt revelation.
“Hold on to that Mandela moment,” Jeff advised, injecting a touch of humor. “At that time, my wife and I were grappling with our most significant challenge – the challenge of conceiving a child. I don’t know if the ‘baby-making machine’ was malfunctioning,” he quipped.
Jeff went on to narrate the challenging path they traversed on their journey to parenthood, exploring various fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization (IVF). Visits to friends’ homes, filled with the laughter of happy children, served as constant reminders of their struggle.
Amidst their hardship, a friend provided a glimmer of hope by suggesting a clinic in Barcelona, Spain, as a potential solution. Taking a leap of faith, Jeff and Sonia decided to explore this clinic, ultimately finding their saving grace.
“Our precious child was born on July 31, 2007,” Jeff recalled, his face radiating with joy. “A friend introduced us to a clinic in Barcelona, Spain, and we took a chance, and it worked.”
Even the late Nelson Mandela, in his friendly and curious manner, would inquire about Jeff’s progress toward fatherhood. Jeff shared, “He would playfully ask me, ‘Have you given me a grandson yet?’ I would reply, ‘Mr. President, we’re trying.'”
Jeff couldn’t help but laugh at Mandela’s characteristically sympathetic response, where he offered to lend a hand, saying, “This man served 27 years in prison, and he wants to help me?”
Seven months after this lighthearted encounter, their story took a heartwarming turn.
When Jeff finally mustered the courage to inform Nelson Mandela’s office about the good news, he couldn’t contain his elation. “I called his office and asked them to let Madiba know that we finally had a son, who was now eight months old, and that we were returning to Nairobi. Could they arrange for us to meet, so Madiba could bless him?”
The meeting that ensued, after Jeff’s request was granted, was nothing short of extraordinary.
Nelson Mandela warmly kissed Jeff’s child on the cheek, forging a unique bond between the two.
“If you don’t believe me, I can show you a photo of it. It’s truly unbelievable,” Jeff shared with a heart full of gratitude.
