Five-time NBA All-Star and retired pro basketball player Chris Webber has done a lot in his career. Webber went to two straight NCAA national championships with the "Fab Five" Michigan Wolverines and transformed the franchise of the Sacramento Kings. Today, he is one of the best NBA analysts around, filling chairs on TNT and NBA TV.
But back in 2017, he achieved one of the biggest milestones in his life, just in time for Father's Day that year: He became a first-time dad!
Webber and wife Erika Dates Webber just welcomed their twins into the world in June of 2017, but not without a fight--an eight-year-long fight at that!
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Webber captioned the post, "So thankful. After many years of trying and more than a few heartbreaks, we were blessed with these little ones. Thank you @mrserikawebber."
Dates Webber also posted this beautiful photo of the family on Instagram with the following inspirational message: "Grateful... 7 years waiting for our family to grow, and we were double blessed. Never underestimate the power of prayer, even when "they" tell you it's impossible... All in his time. Thank you to all of our family and friends and even strangers who shared our journey and kept us encouraged."
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"But it's amazing just seeing something that's your own grow and develop," Webber tells Esquire. I'm just in awe. I'm just happy. Most days is laughing and crying at the fact that something like this happened."
According to Dr. Desiree McCarthy-Keith, a Reproductive Endocrinologist at Georgia Reproductive Specialists, research shows that among the 7.3 million women in the United States, nearly 13% of African American women experience a variety of infertility problems compared to 7% of white women.
Unfortunately, even though these alarming rates of infertility among African American women exist, studies show that women kissed by nature's sun utilize fertility services less often and seek medical care too late.
There are many reasons why African- American women fail to seek out infertility care. The following are few examples:
- Cost of Infertility Services
- Access to Infertility Services
- Lack of Education and Awareness
- Shame and Fear
- Lack of Health Care
- Lack of Support
- Culture
In addition to the lack of education and awareness, one of the leading causes of infertility among African American women is uterine fibroids. Many black women struggle with the pain and distress of uterine fibroids, which sometimes leads them to the road of obtaining infertility services and often times seeking out procedures such as hysterectomies and others as well
"It's something my wife and I have been praying for and working toward for years," continues Webber. "To have it happen is just—shit, I don't know what to say. It's the best feeling in the world. I don't get any sleep, but I'm the oldest of 5, and I used to do a lot of babysitting growing up. I have a big family, so we're used to that."
The 47-year-old former NBA star is still one of the top on-air NBA analysts. There's no word yet if his twins are basketball material. But we'll be on the lookout!
