Some love stories feel delicate. This one is anything but.
Dejua and Antwon were both born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare genetic condition often described as causing “glass bones.” It means their bones break easily, sometimes from the smallest movements, sometimes for reasons no one can explain. Between the two of them, they have experienced more than 600 broken bones.
That number alone makes most people stop breathing for a second.
But here’s the truth. Their story isn’t about broken bones. It’s about everything that never broke.
Understanding Osteogenesis Imperfecta Beyond the Medical Definition
Osteogenesis imperfecta, often shortened to OI, affects how the body produces collagen. In simple terms, bones lack the strength most people take for granted. Fractures can happen early, often, and without warning.
Growing up with OI means living with pain, hospital visits, casts, surgeries, and constant caution. It also means learning patience before most kids learn multiplication.
But OI doesn’t define intelligence, kindness, ambition, or the ability to love. That part often gets overlooked.
Video: People call us ‘selfish’ for having a baby with our condition ❤️🩹
Growing Up With Limits the World Assumed Were Permanent
From childhood, Dejua and Antwon were surrounded by expectations that were painfully low. People assumed they would always depend on others. That independence would be impossible. That romance was unlikely. That parenthood was irresponsible.
Imagine being told your entire life what you supposedly can’t do before you even try.
Yet both of them learned early how to adapt. They learned their bodies. They learned their limits. And they learned how to move through the world with intention instead of fear.
Their strength didn’t come from bones. It came from resilience.
Finding Love When the World Wasn’t Expecting It
When Dejua and Antwon met, there was no dramatic movie moment. No sweeping soundtrack. Just recognition.
They understood each other in ways no one else could. The hospital memories. The pain flares. The exhaustion that doesn’t always show on the outside. The mental weight of living carefully in a world that moves fast.
What started as connection grew into trust. Trust grew into love. And love became a partnership built on empathy instead of assumptions.
They weren’t completing each other. They were walking side by side.
Building an Independent Life Against All Predictions
One of the biggest myths surrounding people with OI is that independence is impossible. Dejua and Antwon shattered that idea completely.
They built a fully independent life together. They manage their home. They make decisions for themselves. They navigate challenges daily without waiting for permission or pity.
Independence doesn’t look the same for everyone. For them, it looks like planning carefully, communicating clearly, and supporting each other when the body needs rest.
It’s not weakness. It’s wisdom.
Choosing Parenthood Despite the Noise
Then came the choice that sparked the loudest opinions.
They decided to have a child.
When their daughter Atarah was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, the criticism intensified. Some people labeled them “selfish.” Others questioned their morality. Many spoke without understanding, empathy, or context.
What those voices ignored was intention.
Dejua and Antwon didn’t choose parenthood blindly. They chose it knowingly. With preparation. With medical support. With lived experience no outsider could match.
They didn’t fear OI because they understood it. And they knew how to raise a child with love, safety, and dignity.
Raising Atarah With Experience, Not Fear
Atarah was born into a family uniquely equipped to guide her.
Her parents know the warning signs. They know how to protect without smothering. They know how to teach resilience without minimizing pain. They know how to advocate in medical settings because they have done it their entire lives.
Most importantly, they know how to show her that her condition does not cancel her future.
Atarah is not defined by fragility. She is surrounded by strength, understanding, and fierce love.
Answering the Word “Selfish” With Reality
Calling parents like Dejua and Antwon selfish reveals more about the speaker than the family.
Selfish would be ignoring reality. They didn’t.
Selfish would be refusing preparation. They planned.
Selfish would be choosing fear over love. They chose courage.
They didn’t bring a child into ignorance. They brought her into a home filled with knowledge, patience, and unconditional support.
Love informed their choice, not denial.
Redefining Strength in a World Obsessed With Toughness
We often define strength as lifting heavy things, moving fast, and never breaking. This family tells a different story.
Strength is enduring pain without losing kindness.
Strength is asking for help without shame.
Strength is building a life when the blueprint was never designed for you.
Their bones may be fragile, but their resolve is ironclad.
Why Their Story Matters More Than Ever
In a world obsessed with perfection, Dejua and Antwon remind us that value is not measured by physical durability.
They show us that independence is not about doing everything alone. It’s about having agency. They show us that parenthood is not about guarantees. It’s about commitment.
Their story challenges lazy judgment and replaces it with lived truth.
Dejua and Antwon have lived through hundreds of fractures. What never fractured was their belief in a full life.
They found love where the world expected limits. They built independence where others predicted dependence. And they chose parenthood with clarity, courage, and deep responsibility.
Their daughter Atarah is not a symbol of risk. She is a symbol of continuity, hope, and informed love.
Some people see glass bones and stop there.
This family sees possibility.
And that makes all the difference. ❤️
