Amazing might seem too fluffy a word for a story that involves tragedy and hardship, but it fits wide receiver Amara Darboh’s persevering nature.

“I feel very blessed,” Darboh told the media after he was selected by the Seahawks in the third round of the NFL draft Friday. “I feel like I’ve gone through some difficult times in my life. I think God has also blessed me, and I’ve had some great people that have helped me throughout my life. It’s all part of God’s plan. I’m going to keep following the path that he set out for me.”

Darboh was born on February 1, 1994, in Freetown, Sierra Leone during the early years of a brutal civil war. He was orphaned at the age of two when both his parents were killed. More than 50,000 people lost their lives in the 11-year war.

One of about 13 brothers and sisters and a large extended family, much of Darboh’s youth was spent moving from place to place, seeking refuge from the fighting. Ultimately at age seven, he fled his homeland by foot to neighboring Gambia and then Senegal.

“I had a big family, so I had to move around a lot,” Darboh said. “So sometimes I’d be with all my brothers and sisters and moving a lot is what I remember and moving to different countries at times.”

In 2001, Darboh and his family were sponsored by a Des Moines, Iowa-based Christian group, which provided a house in Des Moines and more importantly, opportunity.

His older sister, Lovetta, raised him until he moved in with a little league teammate’s family, the Schaefer’s when he was in the sixth grade. At age 17, Darboh was adopted by the Schaefer family. He earned US citizenship in 2015.

Meanwhile, Darboh had become a standout wide receiver for Dowling Catholic High, resulting in a scholarship to Michigan. His game improved every year with the Wolverines, despite competing in a run-first offense. In 2016 Darboh logged 57 catches for 862 yards and seven touchdowns.

Last Friday Darboh was selected by the Seahawks in the third round of the NFL draft with the No. 106 overall pick. Darboh’s amazing journey now continues in Seattle.