Meet the miracle twins born prematurely with just the palm of their mother’s hand – but whose lives were saved thanks to hugs from their parents. Evie-Mae and Lily-Beth Rabey from Par, Cornwall were born last June at 28 weeks with stage 3 twin-twin transfusion syndrome. Mom Josie Kent and dad Gareth Rabey were devastated when their baby was born. They were born dangerously early at 28 weeks – with a total birth weight of just 3 pounds.
Miraculously, the two beat off after doctors suggested that regular cuddles from mom and dad could help stabilize heart rates. And relax babies so they have more strength to tackle the bigger fight they have at hand. Josie, 29, and Gareth, 34, took turns holding both children to their chest, skin to skin to help their daughter’s heart rate and breathing. And after three months of being hugged by their caring parents, the girls have recovered enough to be allowed to go home – and amazingly, have now celebrated their first birthday.
Josie, a hairdresser, said: ‘When the girls were born and they had to move into intensive care, Gareth and I just felt so helpless. “We’ve seen them fight and just hopelessly wish there was something we could do.” a joey in their pocket. “Whenever they cuddle us, you’ll immediately see all of their stats stabilize. It’s unbelievable.” I would sit there with them, sleeping on top of me for hours just to feel their warmth and watch them take their little breaths.
And when I needed a break, Gareth took over, holding them to my chest for hours at a time. It made us feel like we were doing something for them as parents. Especially when you feel so helpless and you just sit there looking at them all day. “And it’s an unbelievable feeling to know that we helped them win the fight and get through.” After three heartbreaking miscarriages, Josie gave birth naturally with twins for the first time in January 2018. But after giving birth at 12 weeks in early June last year by emergency cesarean section, two children.
Her twin girls Evie-May and Lilly- Beth are so small – weighing 2 lbs and 1 lb 10oz – that her engagement ring fits their feet. Cuddling really helps us bond with girls. It’s been a very difficult time for us because it can feel like our kids need doctors and nurses more than we do. But taking care of the kangaroo really made us both feel like parents and helped the babies bond with us. It felt like we became nurses too – the doctors taught us how, how to test their stomach acid, how to attach all the tubes and feed them and measure all the food.
We know we’ve kept them alive and that’s amazing. In premature babies that you can’t breastfeed as usual, you can’t build that bond with them. “But Gareth also learned to feed them and it’s lovely that we both have a special relationship with them.” Evie and Lily were later incubated at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth – Lily had a collapsed lung that was touchable and disappeared as doctors tried to stabilize the tiny duo. The twins spent a total of three and a half months in the hospital – Lily needed oxygen at home for another two months.
But they made a full recovery and last month celebrated their first birthday. Josie added: ‘I’m so proud of the girls, they are so supportive and go in for regular check-ups to make sure they’re meeting all of their benchmarks. “On their first birthday, I was overwhelmed with emotion – I cried – not because I was sad but because I was so proud of how far they’ve come, they made it.” and yet they’re still smiling at me like nothing ever happened – they just don’t know how amazing they really are.
Source: dailylifeworld.com
