Raising Ephraim: A Mother's Reflections on Life, Love, Loss, and Legacy

Raising Ephraim is a sweeping, deeply human memoir of life, love, loss, migration, promise, and legacy. Spanning continents and generations, it follows the extraordinary journey of Ephraim Ochieng' Otieno, MD-a young man born to Kenyan immigrants in Richmond, Kentucky, who grew into a brilliant scholar, athlete, and compassionate physician at the University of Louisville Hospital before his life was cut short at age twenty-eight. Following this sudden tragedy, his family transformed unimaginable grief into hope by founding the Ephraim Ochieng Otieno, MD Science Foundation, which supports science education and community wellness across Kenya and the United States.

Dr. Iddah Otieno is a scholar, educator, international education leader, and Founder of the Ephraim Ochieng Otieno, MD Science (EOOSF) Foundation. A professor of English and African Studies and Director of the Kenya exchange program in Lexington, Kentucky, she writes from her lived experiences as an immigrant, mother, educator, and storyteller to honor her son's enduring spirit and impact.