Leela, 32, tells PEOPLE she spent years without knowing her father after the war in Sierra Leone separated her parents, but says he never missed a day after they reunited
Credit: Leela
NEED TO KNOW
- Leela says she didn’t know her father growing up after her parents were separated during the war in Sierra Leone
- The 32-year-old nurse reunited with him as a teenager through a chance family connection
- She tells PEOPLE that after reconnecting, her father became one of the most important people in her life and never missed a day of contact
For most of her childhood, Leela knew her father only through stories. The man who would later become her biggest supporter, daily phone call and closest confidant wasn't part of the memories that shaped her early years.
Her parents were separated during the war in Sierra Leone shortly after she was born, and she spent years growing up without knowing him. Today, the 32-year-old nurse tells PEOPLE that reconnecting with her father as a teenager became one of the most meaningful relationships of her life.
“My relationship with my father is one of the greatest gifts of my life,” Leela says.
The reunion happened through what she describes as an incredible twist of fate. Her father's brother happened to be living in the same city as her family, creating a chance for father and daughter to reconnect after years apart.
Credit: Leela
What followed wasn't a relationship built around occasional visits or holiday phone calls. Once they found each other, her father became a constant presence in her life.
“Once we reconnected, he never missed a day. Not one day,” she tells PEOPLE.
Every morning began with a text message from her father, and every night often ended with a conversation before bed.
“Every morning I woke up to a text from him, and every night he was one of the last people I spoke to before going to bed,” Leela says.
After spending so much of her life without him, those daily conversations became something she never took for granted. Whether she was celebrating a milestone or working through a difficult day, she knew she could count on hearing from him.
As she entered adulthood, her father became one of her biggest sources of encouragement. He supported her through earning a degree in public health and later through nursing school while she balanced life as a single mother.
“My dad was one of the biggest reasons I found the strength to go back to school in the first place,” she says. “Whenever I doubted myself, he believed in me enough for both of us.”
The support wasn't limited to major accomplishments. Some of her favorite memories are tied to small moments that became part of their routine.
Credit: Leela
He called her “Mama,” a nickname inspired by his own mother, for whom she was named. Over time, the nickname became one of the most meaningful parts of their relationship.
“He was my biggest supporter, my best friend, and the person I could talk to about absolutely anything,” Leela says.
When she reflects on her father now, she doesn't think first about achievements or milestones. Instead, she remembers his character.
She describes him as someone who would go out of his way to help others, even when it came at a personal cost. If there was conflict, he was often the first to apologize because he valued peace more than pride.
“He was the kind of person who would go out of his way to help others, even when it cost him personally,” she says.
Years after they reunited, Leela lost her father, a loss that was especially painful given the years they had already spent apart before finding each other. Yet she says the grief has also reinforced how grateful she is for the relationship they were able to build.
Credit: Leela
Some of the lessons he taught her continue to guide her today. She remembers how he listened without judgment and knew when comfort required words and when it simply required presence.
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“When I was hurting, he never rushed my feelings,” Leela says. “Sometimes he would simply sit and listen.”
Today, she carries those memories with her as she continues building the life her father encouraged her to pursue. While the years they lost can never be recovered, she remains thankful for every day they were given after finding each other again.
“He loved me unconditionally. He never asked anything from me except that I be happy,” she says. “That kind of love is rare, and I carry it with me every single day.”
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