Mom Trusts God For A Miracle: The Birth Of Her 22-Week-Old Premature Twins (+podcast)

Monday, February 28 2022 by Monika Kelly

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Mom holding premature baby with husband in hospital
Meredith Ard
Meredith Ard and her premature son, Sutton along with her husband

(Charlotte, North Carolina) Meredith Ard and her husband Kenny were thrilled when they found out that they were pregnant for the second time. 

"Much to our surprise, we were expecting twins," Meredith shared. 

They had no idea that things were about to take a difficult and unexpected turn.

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At a routine ultrasound visit, the tech had difficulty finding the second twin. Because of a rare medical issue (twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome), the second baby, Sawyer, was so small that he was hard to see. 

He wasn't getting enough nutrition. 

The doctor gave Meredith a very tough choice--to terminate the pregnancy immediately and lose the babies or to stay pregnant, put her own life at risk and have an emergency surgery. 

Woman in surgical mask and scrubs in hospital bed
[Photo Credit: Meredith Ard] Meredith pregnant with twins

Confident in their faith in God, Meredith and Kenny made the decision to have the surgery and stay pregnant as long as possible to allow the babies to continue to grow and develop. 

Meredith said she was awake during the surgery and prayed out loud the entire time. 

She said she was "literally just crying out to God and saying please God, guide these doctors' hands as they are performing surgery on my babies."

Mom holding her premature baby
[Photo Credit: Meredith Ard] Baby Sutton as a tiny baby

At an extremely premature 22 weeks, Meredith delivered her babies. 

Sawyer and Sutton had to be incubated and on ventilators to help them breathe. She credits the medical staff at Prisma Health Richmond (South Carolina) for deeming her babies worth saving at 22 weeks. 

Many hospitals don't consider a baby worthy of life-saving measures until 24 weeks, as they're not deemed viable--able to survive outside the womb--until then. 

Read more about efforts to raise awareness about treating babies born at 22 weeks here

Baby in crocheted hat that looks like an owl
[Photo Credit: Meredith Ard] Baby Sutton in 2020

Sadly, Sawyer passed away after 13 hours. 

Tombstone with father and infant son nearby
[Photo Credit: Meredith Ard] Dad Kenny holding baby Sutton at his brother Sawyer's tombstone

Meredith says although she and her husband are incredibly grateful for Sutton's recent first birthday, it was bittersweet as she grieved the loss of his brother. 

"I don't question God but I still question what life would have been like...but at the same time I know how fortunate I am to actually have a baby because there are so many parents out there that are trying..." Meredith shared.

Husband and wife and two little boys
[Photo Credit: Meredith Ard] Sam, Kenny, Meredith and Sutton

Sutton is thriving now and just recently began to eat on his own. To give back, Meredith has organized a support group for parents in neonatal ICU and has raised funds for gift cards, Christmas baskets and lots of children's books. 

Starbucks gift cards and super tip markers
[Photo Credit: Meredith Ard] Gift cards and markers collected for the ICU

Books are especially important because while a parent can't usually hold their premature baby when they're in the NICU, they can read to their child out loud. 

The sound of a parent's voice is very comforting.

Stacks of children
[Photo Credit: Meredith Ard] Books donated for parents with babies in the NICU

 

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