‘The UK’s most premature twins’ have finally headed home from the hospital—five months after their birth when they were given a zero percent chance of survival.
Little Harley and Harry Crane were conceived via IVF and were born at 22 weeks and five days.
Babies born after only five months of development are not classed as legally viable but the tough siblings clung to life, and have amazed doctors.
The 39-year-old mother, Jade, has spent the last five months at the side of her brave babies in the newborn intensive care unit at Queens Medical Hospital in Nottingham.
After trying to get pregnant naturally for three years, Jade suffered an ectopic pregnancy before the couple decided to start IVF in 2010.
The miracle pair headed home to Derby this week with their proud mum and dad just two and a half weeks after their original due-date.
“They’re doing absolutely amazing. They’re doing all the things that we were told they wouldn’t do—they’re crying, they’re surviving.
“It’s really emotional,” said father Steve, 52. “140 days ago we didn’t think we’d be here.”
They experienced three heartbreaking miscarriages on IVF, too. “Steve and I have been together for 14 years, and 11 of those have been spent doing IVF,” says Jade.
“The few bits of clothes that I did buy made me think that I better keep the tags on just in case – you just don’t want to let yourself believe.”
When she was checked into the hospital on October 26, at 22 weeks pregnant, the doctor kept saying it was a miscarriage—but Jade said it couldn’t be because she could feel the babies moving.
A nurse explained after the birth why Jade couldn’t hear the baby cry—because it was born far too early.
“But then I heard this little cry. Harry did the same when he was born an hour later.”
“Their little cries sounded like a tiny kitten.
The couple was told that the twins weren’t going to survive.
“After they were born, I was Googling twins who survive at 22 weeks and trying to find any to give me hope,” said Jade. “I found a set of twins in America who had survived—they’re four now. I’ve connected with their mum on Instagram and she guided me through the first few days of being in the unit and what to ask for.
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The babies were born with lung and other problems. They were also diagnosed with a serious gastrointestinal problem, which can be fatal, and Jade was told to prepare to say goodbye.
Thankfully, the newborns have defied the odds and Harley finally joined her brother at home on Monday.
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“They’ll go down in medical history – I’m pretty sure they’ll be having one of the wards named after them because everyone is just amazed by them!”
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Chubby cheeks & lots of hair! They look like miracles to me! It’s amazing the survival spirit that our Creator God has put in each of us humans!