THE power couple are back - and there's someone they would like you to meet. Dejua and Antwon last appeared on Truly back in early 2024, sharing their story as a couple with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) - a condition that means their "bones are like glass." Despite suffering over 600 broken bones between them, the pair have defied the odds to find love and live a fully independent life. But when the couple discovered that they were expecting a child, doctors told them that "any child [they would] have would have OI" and that there would be severe risks to both Dejua and the child during her pregnancy. The soon-to-be parents were optimistic and undeterred - but it would not be the smooth sailing journey they hoped for. When doctors noticed Dejua's blood pressure "skyrocketing" she was taken in for an emergency C-section, giving birth to baby Atarah and landing herself in ICU with breathing difficulties. While Dejua fought for her own life, Atarah had been born a micro-preemie at just 29 weeks, so the odds were stacked firmly against her. She remained in hospital for the first 11 months of her life and was finally discharged home five days before her first birthday. As if their health battles were not enough for the family to deal with, trouble had been brewing online after Dejua and Antwon shared videos teasing the fact that they had a new baby girl. Without even showing her face, the parents received waves of judgement, with many asking "Where is CPS?" or "Why are the doctors letting them do this?" and others calling them "selfish" for bringing a child into the world with their condition. But, as Dejua told Truly: "What people fail to realise is we're not suffering." And with the family now building a life together at home and Atarah now "thriving" at 15 months old, Antwon has one message for those who might look to judge them: "Don't judge a book by its cover. Just because we may look like we can't do this or can't do that, that doesn't mean we can't."
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