Miracles happen day by day, this story is definitely one that sticks out more than most. It is widely known that twins seem to share a unique connection to each other. This story is evidence proving that that connection is very real. It is so remarkable that you may even question because of the bond this set of twin babies share.
The 90's would be, in so many ways different to how we live at present. However, premature babies have and will always be given birth to. Kyrie and Brielle Jackson were twins that were born 12 weeks early in Worcestor, Massachusetts. After being born prematurely, they obviously needed medical assistance as they were weaker and tinier than ordinary babies. It would be such a hard first few weeks for the tiny twins, going through an experience that would be hard for even fully grown adults.
Baby Kyrie did not show any signs of trouble at all. Although weighing a bit over two pounds, she ate well and gained weight rather quickly. Unfortunately, Brielle, on the other hand, showed signs of complications. She could not gain weight and also had breathing problems. Even though sometimes she was doing “okay," her parents and her doctors were hoping she would make a turn for the better. There was a harsh reality check that came into play very soon though.
The newborn twins were kept inside incubators like any other premature newborn would be kept in. They were both kept inside two separate incubators and spent most of their time away from each other. Even when they are older, most twins prefer staying close to their other twins. As hard as it was to remain positive, the Jacksons knew that they had to, even if the unthinkable were to happen. You would not believe what happens next.
Everything was going smoothly as they were kept there for about two weeks. As each day passed, Paul Jackson, and his wife thought they were close to bringing their girls home. "The nurses in the NICU were very honest. And they told me up front that 'things look pretty good now, but, to be honest with you, over the next 48 to 72 hours, things could turn very quickly,'" said Brielle and Kyrie's dad, Paul Jackson. They were in utter shock after this happened.
There was so much happening so very quickly as they even had to labor Brielle's breathing. Soon after, even her heart rate rose high and her little heart was beating much too rapid for a baby. Even her oxygen level was dropping at a rapid pace causing her parents to freak out a bit.
At times like this, all we can ever do is pray and hope for miracles. Seeing their child struggle to stay alive, made the Jacksons feel completely helpless. Sadly it only got worse for them. Brielle began to turn blue following the drop in her oxygen level. This clearly does not look good, especially because it is a baby that is in the midst of it all.
Lack of oxygen is known to affect the brain causing damage at times, it could even lead to the organs inside to lose functions and completely shut down. Not having sufficient oxygen in their body can make a situation go from serious to life-threatening, very quickly. All this happened to baby Brielle which must be excruciating to even witness.
Both the nurses and the doctors did their possible best to help Brielle breathe, but tiny Brielle continued to struggle for each breath. Sadly the oxygen they provided was not getting through enough. Brielle was just not responding to their treatment. Every second count during times like these and frankly they were quickly running out of time. A NICU nurse, named Gayle Kasparian, suddenly had an idea and wasted no time.
It was such a random idea that turned out to be such a genius one. What Gayle Kasparian decided to do hadn’t been proven to work, and had actually never been done in the United States. Even if it had been documented, there is no documentation that proves so. She suggested putting Brielle in the incubator with her sister. She had a thought that suggested if the twins were kept together they might benefit from one another.
Almost immediately when they were kept together, a miracle of sorts happened. Kyrie put her arm around her sister as if she were giving her a hug. There was no way Kyrie knew she was even offering a 'hug'. Side-by-side the girls laid together on their bellies. Everyone in the room glanced at them, hoping that the nurse’s “crazy” idea would actually work. After a matter of seconds, all that they had hoped and prayed for happened in the hospital room.
Little Brielle was breathing normally without any help from a machine or the doctors. It appeared that the contact with her sister made her calm down enough to regulate her breathing. It is clear to see that her twin sister had indeed saved her then and there. Once she was put in the incubator, Brielle’s heart rate stabilized and her temperature went back to normal. Whatever happened inside the incubator you may be asking... Well, it is quite simple.
The only thing they needed to do was keeping both the twins together in one bed. "Kangaroo care refers to the act of placing your newborn on your chest - skin to skin. It's good for you and it's good for the baby. Numerous studies have documented the benefits of kangaroo care. They include improved heart rate, oxygen saturation, breathing, sleep, weight gain, breastfeeding and reduced crying," reports Akron Children's Hospital. Their bond helped in saving each other when medical science failed.
There is a common belief held by doctors all over that skin-to-skin contact is vital for newborns. Moms and dads are often advised to hold their newborns on their bare chest, allowing for their child’s bodies to take in all of the benefits. This is especially beneficial for premature babies where specialists in the neonatal field agree that every newborn should have skin-to-skin time with their parents. "Research has also found positive associations with cognitive and motor skills, and psychosocial benefits, such as attachment and parental confidence," Akron Children's Hospital reports.
When all of the havoc was over and Brielle was pronounced fine, it was smooth sailing for then on out. The Jacksons could take their darlings home quickly thereafter. The twins obviously grew up extremely close. As toddlers, they didn’t know how important they were to each other, but once they were able to understand what they went through, their love grew even stronger. Their bond has grown stronger day by day and now here they are today...
The fact that they were born 12 weeks premature is unbelievable judging by their looks now. They are 23 now and doing better than okay. Brielle and Kyrie are still extremely close, but that’s obviously not surprising. They both express their gratitude to one another and that there is nothing like the love that comes from family. However, there is something quite special about the bond between twins, and Brielle and Kyrie can explain for themselves.
Their remarkable story gets shared from time to time on news outlets. Their experience was so heart-warming, so miraculous, that it’s the type of story that people enjoy hearing about. Their happy ending makes it all the more satisfying to know! Hopefully, we get more updates on their whereabouts from the twin in the near future. A great idea would be a double wedding, perhaps? Just saying...
They were born in the month of October, day 17, in the year 1995 which was actually a full 12 weeks ahead of their due date. The standard practice, that time, at The Medical Center of Central Massachusetts in Worcester, where the twins came into the world, was to place them in separate incubators to ward off any chance of infections.
They were placed in separate incubators which we repeat was a standard practice to reduce any risk of infection from any source. Kyrie, who weighed 2lbs 3 oz, was making good progress and gaining weight, but her tiny sister had breathing and heart-rate problems, there was little weight gain and her oxygen level was low.
We have all heard of the notion that desperate times often call for desperate attempts or measures. Nurse Gayle Kasparian, after exhausting all the conventional remedies, decided to try a procedure that was common in parts of Europe but virtually unknown in the United States. After the parents agree to this idea, she kept them together in one incubator.
After closing the incubator in a matter of just a minute, Brielle snuggled up to Kyrie and began to calm down. Just a few minutes in, she quickly began to improve and was healing before everyone's eyes. As she dozed, Kyrie wrapped her left arm around her smaller sister. Brielle’s body temperature and heart rate showed signs of normalcy.
After a long hard struggle, the twins could finally make their way home. Even at home, their mom and dad gave them one bed where they would continue to thrive and grow to strengthen their bonds evermore. Even after five years, the parents have revealed, they slept in the same bed, occasionally snuggling with one another.
The popular photograph taken of Kyrie and Brielle aptly named the “Rescuing Hug,” has appeared on the pages of both the Life magazine and Reader’s Digest. It brought fame to the pair and spurred a growing interest in co-bedding premature twins, triplets, and quads. There caused a mainstream interest in twins after their features.
The positive effect can be seen everywhere. For instance, the University of Massachusetts Memorial, went on to co-bed at least 100 sets of multiple birth preemies. Observing this practice over a period of five years, the hospital staff there has not found a single case of twin-to-twin infection. Clinical studies have later confirmed through intense research that twins, in fact, benefit from being in close contact with one another.
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