In December, Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, physician Ivara Esege, faced the sudden and tragic death of one of their twin sons, Nkanu, at their home in Lagos. The 21-month-old had initially shown mild cold symptoms but developed a persistent fever that prompted the couple to seek hospital care after New Year’s Day.
Concerned about an atypical presentation of Kawasaki disease—a condition that can cause heart complications in children—Mr. Esege reached out to medical specialists at Johns Hopkins Hospital near their Maryland residence in the United States. Johns Hopkins agreed to provide treatment but required additional testing to clear Nkanu for air travel. The family took Nkanu to Euracare, a Lagos hospital reportedly operating at international standards, for an MRI and other assessments.
During the MRI, Nkanu was sedated with the anesthetic Propofol to keep him still. Ms. Adichie recalled witnessing a doctor rush urgently into the catheterization lab where her son was undergoing the test. She was informed shortly afterward that Nkanu had been administered too much Propofol, which led to cardiac arrest. Despite efforts to stabilize him, Nkanu died within 24 hours. The exact timing of his death remains unclear to the family.
Mr. Esege expressed shock after reviewing hospital reports that indicated Nkanu’s pupils were fixed and dilated and that he showed no neurological responses, suggesting a lack of brain function hours before his passing. According to Mr. Esege, the attending doctor, Tosin Majekodunmi—whom the family had known personally—may have withheld this information initially to protect Ms. Adichie.
Following Nkanu’s death, the couple filed complaints with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, which found preliminary evidence of negligence involving three physicians: Dr. Majekodunmi, anesthesiologist Dr. Titus Ogundare, and a doctor from Atlantis Pediatric Hospital who initially treated Nkanu. While the Atlantis physician was later cleared, the others were suspended pending formal hearings. Both Dr. Majekodunmi and Dr. Ogundare have not responded to requests for comment.
The ongoing coroner’s inquest into Nkanu’s death has faced delays attributed by Ms. Adichie to obstruction by Euracare. The hospital further accused the family of destroying evidence by having their son cremated—a move that shocked the couple and escalated tensions over the inquiry. Euracare’s chief operating officer did not respond to requests for comment.
The loss has deeply affected the Adichie family, complicating Ms. Adichie’s longstanding emotional connection to Nigeria, which serves as the vivid backdrop for much of her literary work. While she previously described Nigeria as the sole place where one’s roots could settle, she now grapples with feelings of uprootedness following her son’s death and the perceived shortcomings of the country’s health system. Nigeria, like many other low-income countries, faces significant challenges in healthcare delivery, including limited government investment, infrastructure deficiencies, and a shortage of medical professionals—estimated by the World Bank at 0.4 doctors per 1,000 people compared to 3.7 in the United States.
Despite these frustrations, Ms. Adichie and Mr. Esege continue to maintain their family’s ties to Nigeria. Their daughter, who refers to Nigeria as her “happy place,” remains eager to visit, and the couple intends to return with their children. Ms. Adichie acknowledged the complexity of her grief, describing the physical and emotional toll of mourning while caring for her surviving children.
Having spent significant periods between Nigeria and the United States since moving to America at 19 to pursue higher education, Ms. Adichie credits both countries with shaping her writing career and identity. Yet, as she reflected on the loss of her son and the difficulties confronting Nigerian healthcare, she admitted a hesitance about returning to the country in the immediate future.
“I do not want to go back to Nigeria,” she said softly, underscoring the profound and enduring impact of her family’s tragedy.