A life shaped
by care
mother of three, and award-winning author on a mission to help
every child feel seen and understood.
A life shaped
by care
Meet Makida Arshi
From midwife in Ethiopia to award-winning author and coach, Makida’s journey is rooted in a single belief: every person deserves to feel seen and valued exactly as they are.
Her story
Born in Ethiopia, shaped by care
I was born and raised in Ethiopia. At seventeen, I left home to study midwifery in Gondar. It was my first time living independently. I stepped into responsibility early and chose a profession centered on care.
The first birth changed everything
My first birth was frightening. I had never seen so much blood. But when that baby was delivered and I saw the relief on the mother’s face, something changed inside me. I realized I could help someone through pain and fear. That sense of purpose never left me.
Over the next ten years, I served as a midwife in Gondar, Sagure, Asella, and Addis Ababa. I helped 2,567 mothers give birth. Some families named their children after me. I witnessed the beginning of life thousands of times.
Alongside my hospital work, I volunteered with the Family Guidance Association. I coordinated 25 volunteers and supported 250 bedridden patients, many living with HIV. Some days I left homes in tears because I could not provide everything they needed. Those experiences shaped me. I learned compassion, humility, and the dignity of every person.
A Journey Across Continents
After ten years in Ethiopia, I moved to Dubai, working as a postpartum nurse at Mediclinic City Hospital. I cared for women from many countries. That experience broadened my understanding of people from different backgrounds.
Later, I moved to the United States after marriage. The transition was significant. I became pregnant shortly after arriving. For several years, I focused fully on raising my children.
When I returned to work, I prepared for my nursing exam in secret. I was afraid of judgment if I failed. I slept about two hours a night, balancing motherhood and studying. I passed on my first attempt.
In 2017, I began working at Alexandria Hospital in Virginia.
When Life Shifted Again
Even with my healthcare background, acceptance was not immediate. It took me two years to fully accept that my child was autistic. It is different when the diagnosis belongs to your own child.
I have three daughters. My first and third are typically developing. My second has autism.
One of the hardest challenges was managing the relationship between my children. When my autistic daughter made a mistake, I sometimes responded with patience because I understood her needs. When my other daughters made similar mistakes, I reacted differently. My first daughter would question why her sister was treated differently.
I had to explain that different needs require different responses. Fairness is not always sameness. Love remains equal. That process was not easy, but we worked through it together.
Why I Started Writing
I also witnessed children using words like stupid and dumb when referring to children who behave differently. That hurt deeply. I wanted typically developing children to understand autism so they would not bully, overstimulate, or isolate their classmates. I wanted them to give space and show understanding.
I saw families hiding their autistic children because of shame. That broke my heart. A child does not choose autism. Every child deserves dignity and sunlight. Every child deserves to be seen.
In 2023, while breastfeeding my third child, I began writing my first book at 2 in the morning when the house was quiet. It was the only time I had. My first book, Uniquely You Are Beautiful, was written to teach children that they are enough as they are. It was translated into Amharic, Afaan Oromo, and Tigrinya. It received seven awards.
But the most meaningful moment happened at home. My daughter Nina read the book and said the character was like her. She saw herself represented. She did not feel different or excluded. That moment meant more than any award.
My second book, “Shining As I Am,” helps children understand autism. It has become a conversation starter in homes and classrooms.
Evolution
Parents began reaching out asking for more support
The need
After publishing my books, I started hearing from parents. They’d write to me saying, “This book helped my child understand. But I need more. I need someone to talk to who really gets it.”
I understood that feeling completely. I remember the isolation, the confusion, the weight of it all. I remember wishing for someone who’d been there.
So I began offering coaching sessions. Just a few at first, talking with parents one-on-one. And I realized this was the natural next step in my work. I’d spent decades caring for bodies as a nurse. Now I could care for hearts as a coach and advocate.
Today, I offer coaching for parents, support groups for families, and training for schools. Every conversation is rooted in the same belief that’s guided my whole life: every person deserves to be seen, understood, and valued exactly as they are. Today
I still work as a nurse. I still raise my three daughters. And now I coach and write.
People in my community recognize me as the author of these children’s books. My children proudly say that their mother wrote them. That pride and representation remain my greatest reward.
My journey began with helping mothers give birth. It continues with helping children feel seen, understood, and valued. Every story I write and every parent I coach comes from the same place: a belief that every person, no matter how they experience the world, deserves to know they are enough exactly as they are.
Recognition of a life devoted
to helping others feel seen
My work has been honored through literary awards and translations that have reached families across continents. These recognitions matter because they mean my stories are finding the children and families who need them most.
Awards won
7
For Uniquely You Are Beautiful
Languages reached
3
Amharic, Afaan Oromo, Tigrinya
Mothers served
2,567
During my decade as a midwife in Ethiopia