Born 126 days early, the world's most premature twins celebrate their first birthday by defying the odds. Typically babies born before 22 weeks of pregnancy do not survive. Most hospitals around the world will encourage their parents to let them pass from their arms into the arms of Jesus.
I vividly remember standing over the grave of my twin nephews, who were born at 21 weeks. It felt like the grief we were experiencing would tear our hearts at the seams as we grieved two healthy boys born too early.
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Babies born after 22 weeks typically don't survive either. If they do, they have a challenging journey of health-related complications to overcome from being born so early.
Parents Brace For The Worst
Shakina and Kevin had already survived the devastating loss of their first child due to a miscarriage. When Shakina discovered she was pregnant again, she was anxious. She was praying for a heartbeat. She was praying her future held her longing to become a mother.
During her first ultrasound, all she could do was ask continually, "Is there a heartbeat?" Her wildest hope became a reality when the technician held up two fingers and informed her she was carrying twins. The pregnancy was smooth sailing until Shakina found herself in labor at 21 weeks.
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Shakina said, "At that point, all the doctors and nurses said they could do was offer comfort care where they would put the babies on my chest and Kevin's chest and wait for them to die."
The World’s Most Premature Twins Defy The Odds
Miraculously, their twins were born at exactly 22 weeks, just a few minutes after midnight. Their daughter Adiah was the first to arrive, followed by her brother Adrial. Shakina and her husband learned quickly their twins were fighters who battled multiple health complications. Miraculously after spending nearly six months in the NICU, both were discharged to go home.
Now they've made it to their first birthday, becoming the world’s most premature twins! And they are celebrated worldwide as being the youngest twins born at 22 weeks. May their birth and lives signify that all life is precious and worth fighting for.
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"My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." Psalm 139:15-16.
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Featured Image Credit: Youtube/Guinness World Records