Choosing Single Motherhood At 47 Was An Embrace Of My Own Autonomy — Former CNN Anchor Isha Sesay Reveals

Award-winning British-Sierra Leonean journalist and former CNN International anchor Isha Sesay has revealed that she chose to become a single mother through IVF after realizing that waiting for the “right man” could mean missing her chance to have a child.

Speaking with Larry Madowo on African Voices, Sesay said becoming a mother had always been part of her life plan, but her journalism career eventually took priority.

“I had wanted to have a baby. It was always on the list of things that I was going to do. And then I got to CNN. And it just became about the work,” she said.

She explained that everything changed after her mother suffered a catastrophic stroke, forcing her to confront the reality of life and reassess what truly mattered.

As her biological clock continued to tick, Sesay decided to pursue motherhood on her own.

She stressed that her decision was not an att@ck on men, but a deeply personal choice.

“Some people take it as though I did it as an affront or a rejection of men. It’s not a rejection of anyone. It is an embrace of my own autonomy,” she said.

Reflecting on the decision, Sesay admitted that remaining childless would have been her greatest regret.

“Not having a child would be the greatest regret of my life. And with my biological clock ticking down, if I was waiting for the right man to come along before I did it, well, I might find myself out of time,” she said.

Her path to motherhood was far from easy. She underwent multiple IVF cycles, fibroid surgery, hormone treatments and endured failed embryo transfers before finally welcoming her daughter in 2024.

Sesay also disclosed that caring for her mother, who remained in a semi-conscious state for nearly nine years before her death in June 2025, influenced her decision to leave CNN after 13 years.

Reflecting on her journey, Sesay said losing her mother was a prolonged and painful experience, while her determination through multiple failed IVF attempts eventually led to the fulfilment of her lifelong dream of becoming a mother.

Source: Instablog

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