Twins Born 87 Days Apart–And That 23-Week-Old Newborn Is Astonishing!

Amy Elliott was only 1 lb. 3 oz. when she was born four months early, leaving her twin sister Katie behind in the womb.  The Daily Mail reported the story of the Irish twins whose unusual births 87 days apart have set a Guinness World Record for “the longest interval between the births of twins.” Tiny Amy was born on June 1, 2012, after her mother’s water broke prematurely.  She was not expected to live–but she did, and she was joined by her 5 lb., 10 oz. sister Katie 87 days later.  LifeNews.com tells the story:

Dr. Sam Coulter Smith, chief of Dublin’s Rotunda Hospital and an expert in obstetrics and gynecology called the birth astonishing.

“For a baby delivered at 23 weeks to survive, is a huge achievement from everyone’s point of view,” he told the Irish Times. “For a 23-week twin to survive is even bigger because twins often behave more prematurely than singleton babies. That really is right at the absolute border of viability.”

Once Maria had given birth to Amy, her contractions stopped and despite efforts to induce her the following day, Katie remained in the womb.

What surprises me, as I look at the pictures of these beautiful little girls smiling in their parents’ laps, is how alike they are.  Amy continued her growth on the outside, while Katie continued to develop inside the mother’s womb; and yet they match in size and in their awareness of their surroundings.  Each child had continued to develop, despite their very different environments, at exactly the pace intended by God. This week, as we reflect on the House of Representatives’ refusal to impose restrictions on abortion after 20 weeks, the story of the Elliott twins proves once again that life is wonderful, life is sacred.