Hakeem Adeniji and Wife Kayla Celebrate the Birth of Baby Elijah One Year After Their Loss

Dallas Cowboys’ Hakeem Adeniji and wife Kayla.

Credit: courtesy of Kayla Adeniji

NEED TO KNOW

• Hakeem Adeniji and his wife, Kayla, have welcomed a new addition to their family.
• The couple’s son, Elijah Semiu, arrived nearly a year after their first son, Semiu, was stillborn.
• Elijah was born on December 26, weighing 8 lbs., 13 oz., and measuring 21.5 inches long.

The family of Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji and his wife, Kayla, has expanded with the birth of their son, Elijah Semiu. The couple shared the news exclusively with PEOPLE, noting that this joyful occasion follows the loss of their first son, Semiu Zade, nearly a year prior.

Kayla recounted the challenges the couple faced leading to Elijah’s arrival. “In November of 2024, I had a stillbirth at 38 weeks and 3 days pregnant,” she shared. “This came after two years of infertility, one successful round of IVF, one failed embryo transfer, and one positive embryo transfer that resulted in the loss of our firstborn.”

Reflecting on their journey to parenthood, she added, “We were so prepared to be parents and when that was taken from us, we knew the only way we could heal and move forward is to bring another baby into this world.” She vividly remembered the heart-wrenching moment when a doctor informed her that their son had no heartbeat. “I grabbed my husband’s hands and I told him, ‘I don’t care what it takes, we will have a baby,'” she remarked.

Elijah Semiu.

Credit: courtesy of Kayla Adeniji

Due to the complications from her cesarean section, Kayla was advised to wait a year before trying to conceive again. During a conversation with Hakeem’s friend, Darnell, it was brought to their attention that Darnell’s wife, Cerise, was interested in becoming a surrogate.

Kayla expressed her initial skepticism regarding the surrogacy offer, stating, “At first it all felt like a ‘this is too good to be true’.” However, the couple eventually embraced the idea during a FaceTime call where they discussed the prospects of surrogacy together.

Having a close friend as their surrogate made the experience even more meaningful for Kayla. When Cerise confirmed her pregnancy, Kayla was overcome with emotion. “I dropped to my knees and started crying,” she recalled, cherishing that moment.

Elijah Semiu.

Credit: courtesy of Kayla Adeniji

Kayla traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio, for Elijah’s delivery, where she met Cerise at the hospital hours before the birth. “When I hugged her, she immediately started crying,” Kayla recounted. “It was tears of joy as we prepared for this beautiful experience together.”

Elijah was born at 2:52 p.m. Kayla described Cerise during labor as a “happy, radiant woman,” and noted how bittersweet it was to see her son enter the world. “I was shaking from crying; it was the best moment of my life,” she reflected. Her husband, Hakeem, as well as their family members were present to share in the experience.

Upon seeing her son for the first time, Kayla remarked that Elijah resembled his older brother, Semiu, with a full head of hair and adorable curls. She expressed that the sound of his first cry was a significant moment for her, as she had never experienced that joy with Semiu, who was stillborn. “Hearing life come from my son just brought back a piece of my heart I never thought would return,” she stated.

Elijah was named in honor of both his older brother and Hakeem’s father. Kayla explained the meaning of Semiu in Yoruba as “a god that gives” and described their decision to honor both family legacies.

Reflecting on the journey, Kayla noted the vital role Hakeem has played in her life, especially following their loss. “He was doing everything he could to prepare himself to be a father,” she said, expressing gratitude for his support during difficult times.

As Kayla looks forward to the coming months, she hopes to surround Elijah with the love of family and friends who have supported them throughout their journey. “So many people hurt for us and with us when we lost our son,” she shared, emphasizing the love surrounding their new baby.

Kayla concluded by reflecting on their IVF journey, which began while Hakeem was playing for the Minnesota Vikings, and expressed gratitude for Cerise and Darnell, who are now the godparents of their son, Eli.