Two premature baby girls have defeated the odds to spend Mother’s Day with their mum after doctors warned they might not survive.
Non-identical twins, Bella and Ruby, were born fourteen weeks early on the Guy’s and St Thomas’ neo-natal ward, weighing only 910 and 900 grams each – only slightly heavier than a loaf of bread.
Doting mum Ella-Mae spent three months of her pregnancy in the hospital or on bed rest to give her fighting girls the best chance, as they have chronic lung disease requiring 24-hour oxygen.
Despite doctors warning Ella-Mae at her 12-week and 20-week scans that the twins would “probably” not make it, against all the odds they survived.
The twins moved out of the neo-natal ward in mid-January and are now back in their Westminster home.
“The whole time I was worried they would not survive at all or that they would remain in hospital for months longer. I did not think I would have them home for Mother’s Day,” said relived mum Ella-Mae.
She and fiancé Giovanni are hoping to take Bella and Ruby to a hotel to celebrate Mother’s Day.
The fighting twins, who were born on October 31, are being weaned off oxygen and aren’t expected to have any long-term health issues. They had been due on Feb 2.
The family are being supported by Fiona, a family support worker with the Rainbow Trust, which helps families with children who have life-threatening or terminal illnesses.
Ella Mae paid tribute to the charity, saying their help felt like “coming out of deep water and being able to breathe again.”
“I couldn’t do it without Fiona and Rainbow Trust,” she added.