MIRACLE TWINS ENJOY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
nothing but joy at the birth of a new baby, but it was so achingly bitter-sweet as both of their lives hung in the balance. Amy was fighting for life in an incubator and Katie was struggling to survive in my womb. It was the hardest three months of our lives. But Chris kept saying, “Where there’s life there’s hope.”’
‘I couldn’t even digest that I’d become a mother as I had one baby in intensive care and one baby still inside me clinging to life and I had no idea if I’d take either home with me. I remember shouting: “It’s not supposed to be like this”. The only way I could handle it was that I made up my mind I would not be leaving the hospital unless it was with both my girls. I willed them to live and I had absolute trust in the medical team around us.’
It was four days before a still-pregnant Maria was allowed to leave the labour ward to see her first-born twin Amy as she was in intensive care.
Then something extraordinary happened. Maria said: ‘Doctors were stunned; they’d never seen anything like it before.’ Maria was finally induced on August 27, and gave birth to Katie, who weighed 5lb 10oz, 87 days after her sister was born.
Their birth certificates say: Amy Elliott, twin one, date of birth June 1, and Katie Elliott, twin two, date of birth August 27. Hailed as ‘little miracles’, doctors have told Maria and Chris that they had achieved the medical equivalent of winning the lottery, with both girls surviving and healthy.
Maria gave up work in the bank and qualified as a reflexologist and energy healer, specialising in helping people who have suffered trauma.
‘Having been in the darkest of places, I now focus on helping other people – going through something like this changes you. I always say anybody would have done what I did. When you are in a situation you have to give it your all.’
She said the girls are great company for one another.
‘Her speech is catching up with her sister’s. She’s counting to 300 – and so we are very optimistic about the future. She will have help at school to ensure she stays on track and encourage her to continue to thrive.’
As for birthdays, each year is cause for a double celebration, she revealed.
‘They have their own birthdays: one in June and one in August with cake and all the trimmings,’ she said.
‘They’ve grown into two very different characters; Amy is like the Duracell bunny with boundless energy and she loves reading books. Katie is so laid back, she’s always smiling and she loves numbers. They share such a bond and they bring us so much joy. Physically Katie is still the bigger one: She’s an inch taller and she’s three pounds heavier – so that hasn’t changed.
‘Over the summer holidays I bought their books, their uniforms and everything was ready to go. But in the days leading up to their first day at school I was choked. Everyone has said to me: “I bet you never thought you’d see it” – it’s a wonderful moment as in our darkest moments we feared the worst. I’m so thankful and grateful. It was meant to be...for whatever reason.
‘I’m so honoured to have had my beautiful children. For all of us to be here as a family I know I’m the luckiest mother in the world.’