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NEWS
Odera, smallest of the octuplets, departs.... by Chido Nwangwu 12/27/1998 Her Igbo name 'Odera' is an indirect reference to God's will. Essentially, it means, Once God has written (our destiny), no one can change or alter it. She was also determined to live, even after coming into the world, very premature. She was born December 20, as Nkem Chukwu's fifth born and weighing only weighing a little over 10 ounces. She was also smaller than usual. She had been facing the most challenging situation of the world's most famous babies. But unfortunately, after an equally determined effort by the team of doctors at the Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Odera was announced dead on Sunday December 27, 1998. According to the hospital Odera died of heart and lung failure. In a statement released through the hospital, her parents, Nkem Chukwu and Ike Louis Udobi, said: "We are very saddened by the passing of our beloved baby Odera. She is now safe with God in heaven and we remain most grateful to him for having blessed our lives with hers. USAfrica The Newspaper and usafricaonline.com were reliably informed late on Saturday December 26 about the "highly critical condition and fear for Odera's ability" and the very difficult task of surviving the odds. The quest by that little bundle of joy, the history-making baby, to cling on to life was not to be the best wishes and hopes of all who prayed for her. At birth, she was found to have a heart abnormality called patent ductus arteriosis -- a defect of a short blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery and the aorta. Meanwhile, the hospital still classifies the remaining five girls and two boys to be in critical condition in the hospital's neo-natal unit. The eighth-born, Goram, another girl, had surgery on Saturday December 26, to repair what the doctors referred to as an intestinal perforation. Four of the babies are said to be breathing on their own while the others required ventilators. Previously, they were all using ventilators. Also, the babies' pediatrician Dr. Patti Savrick said on Saturday that Ikem, the seventh-born and a boy, was recovering from what called a "serious respiratory attack. Across different cities in the U.S., African and the world, some churches, individuals and leaders of communities have been praying for the safety and health of the remaining seven kids, namely: The children all share the surname Louis. Their first given names are listed, followed by the English translation and the child's nickname.
* Baby girl A: Chukwuebuka Nkemjika ("God is Great"); nickname Ebuka Many of the well-wishers of the family have started sending their condolences on the death of Odera. *Nwangwu, Founder & Publisher of USAfricaonline.com and USAfrica Children Support Network, is recipient of the Journalism Excellence Award, HABJ 1997. Related article: EIGHT WONDERS OF THE WORLD! --As 27-year old Nigerian-born Nkem Chukwu gives birth to Octuplets, world's attention returns to Houston-- by Chido Nwangwu
Audrey Lawson, Dr. Pat Odimgbe appointed as co-chairperson of the USAfrica Children Support Network benefiting the Chukwu octuplets Back to: News Index USAfricaonline Homepage |