Monday 8th May 2017 at 19:21 and 19:22 in Glasgow's Princess Royal Maternity Hospital, our beautiful identical twins Arloe and Reuben were born.
Arloe arrived first with a mop of dark hair and sallow skin, Reuben's golden skin was paired with a haze of white blonde hairs. They are here!
20 perfect little fingers and 20 tiny toes, belonging to the two most perfect little boys.
Due to the complexity & high risks associated with identical twin pregnancies, the unexplained miracle that two babies can be born from a single conception, we were never really sure how our journey would progress.
Week to week we lived on a roller coaster of emotions, from being told that the risks to both babies were so great that we should consider an outcome where we may not take our twins home, to the news that both babies are well and doing exactly as they should. The highs and lows continued knowing that if one baby was struggling it put the other baby in danger.
We learned to focus on the positives, we have two little miracles growing and wriggling and fighting every day to be with us. We could only put our fears aside, believe that our twins would be born safely and wait for our story to unfold.
7 weeks before they were due to arrive, our boys decided that it was time to meet their Mummy, Daddy and big brother Theo. Their cries were the sweetest sound, the first hurdle, complete.
Our boys were whisked to NICU for special care and breathing support. Having my babies taken from me seconds after they were born, was so difficult. No cuddles or kisses, no stroking their face or smiling for pictures.
Thanks to the amazing team at the Princess Royal Maternity and the donations made to the PRM Baby Fund (via Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity) I was able to have my babies with me via an IPad video link from each incubator in NICU.
The following hours were critical for both Arloe and Reuben and devastatingly due to complications with Reuben's renal function, coupled with their prematurity we said goodnight to our darling boy 24hrs later.
We will forever be grateful for the time Reuben fought to give us, for allowing his brother to be born safely. We held him in our arms, breathed in his breath, his golden skin glistened in the sunshine as he fell asleep knowing nothing but unconditional love.
To remember our incredible son and show our appreciation for his strength we hope to raise as much money as we can for the Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity. To raise funds so that they can continue to support families who find themselves in a position similar to us. Who rely on the specialist care of NICU, High Dependancy and Special Care units in those first precious hours, days, weeks or months of their baby or babies lives in Glasgow's Maternity Hospitals. To help those who work tirelessly to care for and nurture little lives at their most vulnerable, to invest in equipment, development of research and the continued improvement of facilities for the families and babies who rely on these units.
The money raised in Reuben's name will also support the Renal department of Glasgow Children's hospital who cared for Reuben and who continue to look after Arloe as an outpatient. In hope that we never need their expertise or treatment, we will support their need for research and development in both equipment and treatments for children and babies like Reuben affected by Kidney conditions.
Thank you for taking the time to read a small part of our story.
Proud and grateful parents to Theo, Arloe and Reuben. Kathryn & Paul xxx
