Joseph Yobo's Brother and Wife Celebrate Arrival of 'Miracle Baby' After Defying Medical Risks (Photos)

 

32-year-old brother of Super Eagles captain and legend, Gideon Yobo, and his 23-year-old wife, Blessing Yobo, who are based in Bradford, England, are celebrating having their "miracle" baby boy, Caleb at their Redbrook Way, Heaton home, during the Easter holidays after defying an array of medical risks during a pregnancy doctors initially said may not go beyond 14 weeks.

 

It was reported that doctors had warned against Mrs Yobo falling pregnant due to her being diagnosed with lupus, an incurable illness affecting the immune system, and being affected by kidney problems.

 

 

Despite periods of being "very ill" during her pregnancy, Caleb was born healthy, and the national charity Lupus UK said while it did not advise high-risk pregnancies for people with active lupus, the Yobo's story was "wonderful" to hear.

 

Gideon Yobo, a projects manager and the brother of former Premier League footballer and Nigerian international, Joseph Yobo, told the Telegraph & Argus the couple had settled in Bradford after his wife completed her studies in Integrated Science at the city's university.

 

The pair are members of the El-Shaddai International Christian Centre, based at Restoration House on Bowling Old Lane.

 

 

Despite having been made aware of the risks, he said his wife became pregnant after the pair were married last year. At ten weeks, Mrs Yobo was admitted to hospital, and the pair were told they should consider terminating the pregnancy as consultants thought the baby would not survive beyond 14 weeks.

 

"The doctors suggested we should think of stopping the pregnancy, but we both decided beforehand that whatever happens, whatever the risks, we would carry on. We just knew it wouldn't end up in disaster and put our trust in God. Everyone was shocked when she got to 20 weeks, and then we just carried on," said Mr Yobo.

 

 

Due to the high risks involved, doctors at BRI monitored Mrs Yobo very closely throughout her pregnancy, and despite periods where they admitted she had been "very ill", she was successfully induced at 37 weeks.

 

"When Caleb was born, everything was just perfect. They did tests on him, some of them three or four times, and the doctors couldn't believe he had come out fine. Some people would have given up, but we were determined not to. We held on to our faith and beliefs and followed our gut instinct," said Mr Yobo.

 

 

Lupus UK said women whose disease was active when they became pregnant ran the risk of suffering greater problems during pregnancy, and were more likely to need additional drug therapy as the disease could affect the development of the baby, as well as making the mother unwell.

 

Gideon Yobo has written a song in honour of Caleb, entitled ‘Like Father Like Son’, which is available to download, with all proceeds going to a family charity. Click here to listen or download.