Mariam Nabatanzi Babirye, of Uganda, has shared her incredible story that has led to her amassing a small army of children.
Married at just 12-years-old to a 40-year-old polygamist north of Uganda, the mum was pregnant with twins by the time she was 13. Thanks to a series of multiple births by the time she was 23 she had 25 kids, says the Daily Sun.
She has since had more sets of twins, triplets, and even quadruplets. Her youngest son is the odd one out, being born solo.
Seeking help, Mariam was told by doctors that she had a condition called ‘hyper ovulation’ which meant that more often than not she would release several eggs per ovulation cycle. Most women will only release one egg per cycle.
Of the 44 births, 6 children passed away, and Mariam raises 38 kids alone. She has 10 girls, the rest are sons.
Her family struggles due to their negligent and abusive father, as well as limited resources to feed and educate her growing brood.
‘I have been tortured countless times by my husband; he beats me to a pulp when I try to reason with him over any issue, especially when he gets home drunk,’ she told the Daily Monitor.
‘He does not provide basic needs and welfare of the family; the children hardly know who he is since he is an absent father who gives his children names over the phone and not physically.’
Thankfully since her story appeared kind well-wishers have been donating to the family to help ease the burden of raising all those kids!
This article first published on New Idea.
