This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
Nail Aliyev, originally from Azerbaijan, gained admission to Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University and arrived in Türkiye in 2008. While beginning his university education there, Nail Aliyev was involved in a traffic accident during his second academic year, marking a turning point in his life.
Nail Aliyev (Anadolu Ajansı)
As a result of the traffic accident during his university studies, Nail Aliyev was diagnosed with spinal cord injury and began living his life using a wheelchair. A significant portion of his post-accident treatment was carried out in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Despite enduring prolonged rehabilitation and facing considerable psychological and physical challenges during this period, he continued to fight to hold on to life.
While undergoing rehabilitation in Baku, Nail Aliyev met his future wife through his sister. At the time, she was studying at Baku State University. Their friendship gradually developed into a romantic relationship and culminated in marriage in 2017. After marrying, Nail Aliyev settled in the Beylikdüzü district of Istanbul, completed his interrupted university education, and launched a professional career in graphic design.
Nail Aliyev (Anadolu Ajansı)
Following the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Nail Aliyev and his wife applied to an adoption agency motivated by a sense of social responsibility and a desire to become parents. After interviews and evaluations, their application was denied on the grounds of Nail Aliyev’s disability. Although the family was deeply saddened by this decision, it did not diminish Nail Aliyev’s motivation to become a father.
Some time after the adoption process, the Aliyev couple welcomed a son whom they named Ozan. Born in January 2026, Ozan is now 19 months old. Nail Aliyev plays an active role in his care, particularly on days when his wife is working, fulfilling all of Ozan’s personal and social needs. On three days of the week—Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday—Nail Aliyev dedicates himself entirely to his son, building a strong emotional bond through daily routines such as breakfast, park visits, and playtime.
As a person with a disability, Nail Aliyev shares his experiences of fatherhood and daily routines on social media platforms. These posts quickly reached wide audiences and garnered millions of interactions. This digital engagement has become a source of inspiration for other people with disabilities and has contributed to raising awareness about societal perceptions of disability.
Nail Aliyev (Anadolu Ajansı)
According to Nail Aliyev, fatherhood is not defined by physical ability but by the quality of emotional connection and the fulfillment of a child’s emotional needs. Despite all the challenges he has faced, Nail Aliyev maintains a positive outlook and describes fatherhood as a process of “renewal and growth.”