Ivy and Kenneth F. ~ Super Hero Alias: The Miracle Twins
Age: 20 months
Weight at Birth: 1 lb 2 oz, 1 lb 4 oz
Weeks Gestation: 24 weeks
Time in the NICU: 115 days
Diagnosis, complications, surgeries?
Extreme prematurity, ROP, bilateral hernia, umbilical hernia, grade 1 brain bleed, vented for 8 weeks
Why should your child be recognized as “Preemie of the Year”?
Introducing the MiracleTwins (Rocky theme song playing in the background) who shocked the world by surviving!! Born at 24 weeks, Ivy weighed 1 lb 2 oz and Kenneth weighed 1 lb 4 oz. The doctors said the twins had a 30% chance of survival. From the moment they were born, Ivy and Kenny fought for their lives. During their 115 day NICU stay, Ivy and Kenneth successfully overcame various obstacles such as ROP stage 3, a Grade 1 brain bleed, Reflux, Bilateral hernia surgery, and 8 weeks on the ventilator. But their fight was not over. They get therapy throughout the week – Physical, Occupational, Speech, and Developmental – because they are still behind in many things. However, they can see, hear, walk, and babble. As for other milestones, Kenny and Ivy do things on their own time and continue to amaze me daily. They will always be super heroes to me (Rocky theme song fades out).
Using three or more typical characteristics of a Super Hero, please describe your child.
Ivy is extremely independent and determined. When she was about 12 months old, Ivy wanted to pull to a stand. Every time I would try to help her, she would push my hand away and attempt to stand by herself. After many days and many falls, she pulled to a stand on her own!
Kenny has perseverance. Everytime I worried he would not reach a milestone (rolling over, crawling, babbling, pointing etc), he always proved me wrong. It was his way of telling me to “hang in there” and have faith in him because he would rise to the challenge like he always does.
Both of them are fighters. They fought to live, to stay healthy, and continue to fight on a daily basis to overcome the challenges that life throws at them.
