In 2009, the world was captivated by Natalie “Octomom” Suleman when she gave birth to the first surviving set of octuplets. These eight new arrivals brought her family count to a staggering 14 children, joining their older siblings Amerah, Calyssa, Elijah, Caleb, Joshua, and Aidan.
While her family story is incredible, it has also been wrapped in controversies. Choosing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for her pregnancies, Suleman’s doctor, Michael Kamrava, implanted 12 embryos, resulting in the birth of eight babies. Suleman later claimed she wasn’t aware of such a large number of embryos being implanted, suggesting she was under medication at the time.
Dr. Kamrava, however, maintained he was following her wishes. Unfortunately for Kamrava, this led to the revocation of his medical license by the California state medical board in 2011, classifying his actions as “gross negligence.”
Suleman’s newfound fame led her down some challenging paths as she struggled to support her sizable family. To make ends meet, she worked in various roles such as a stripper, adult film actress, and participated in boxing matches. Additionally, she lent her voice to animal welfare, advocating in a PETA campaign for spaying and neutering pets.
Despite these efforts, financial difficulties continued, and in 2012, she filed for bankruptcy with debts reaching $1 million, according to reports by PEOPLE.
By 2014, problems compounded when she faced charges of welfare fraud for not disclosing $26,000 of income. She entered a plea of no contest to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to probation, community service, and ordered to repay the unreported money.
Deciding to step away from the public eye, Suleman embraced a simpler life. Working full-time as a counselor by 2018, she occasionally accepted international photoshoots to provide for her family, supplemented by public assistance.
Suleman has been transparent with her children about their past, always emphasizing how stepping away from the spotlight gave them the chance to lead a more balanced and genuine life.
On January 26, 2024, Suleman’s octuplets reached another milestone—their 15th birthday. Taking to Instagram, she expressed her pride and joy, “Happy 15th birthday Noah, Maliyah, Isaiah, Nariyah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Josiah, and Makai! I am so proud of the young adults you are growing into! Stay true to yourselves, humble, kind, and honest.”
Today, she continues to live a more serene life focused on her children, valuing the love and deeper understanding derived from her remarkable journey.
