Tiny trio triumph against the odds
Little champs growing fast a year after premature births
AYEAR ago, three of Roodepoort’s miracle babies were lying in incubators at the Life Flora Clinic, hardly able to breathe and fighting for their lives.
They were more than two months premature and some of their organs were barely developed.
Newspaper pictures showed them with needles and tubes attached to their tiny heads and bodies, yet Harvey, Gabriel and Daniel Emery defied the odds and are progressing well.
“Our journey has been hard, but a blessing,” says their father, Robert Emery, from Constantia Kloof.
“With the boys, you have to take it one step at a time. Each comes with his own challenges, but we are enjoying their milestones.”
A fourth baby boy, Bradley, died of complications two weeks after the quadruplets were born prematurely. The family have a cross engraved with his name.
The boys’ paraplegic mother, Chantal, had been expecting they would be born on September 22. When she suddenly went into labour at home in June last year, she had to ask her stepson, Joshua, to help.
The babies were born on the bathroom floor and the teenager helped care for them until his father and grandparents arrived.
Each of the babies has a distinctive personality.
“Gabriel laughs all the time. He is going to be the joker in the family,” Chantal says happily.
“Harvey loves toys and any song title that begins with the letter H.
“Daniel, on the other hand, is absolutely sweet. He loves sleeping. They are all a dream.”
With the introduction of day school to their lives, the babies couldn’t be more content.
“Everybody finds ways to tell them apart,” says Chantal.
“I remember going into their bedroom and the sun came through their window and shone on their ginger hair. It was a beautiful sight.”
The little ones continue to face challenges.
Daniel is partially deaf and uses a hearing aid, while Harvey and Gabriel need to wear glasses.
Daniel has also had a series of illnesses, including double pneumonia and swine flu. He retur ned home last Friday after spending almost 100 days in hospital.
Even on their birthday, the boys had bronchitis, but a birthday bash was held for them later.
Chantal and Rob say the boys’ paediatrician, Dr Marc Kitoko, has been immensely supportive since day one.
“He is a phenomenal man and always knows what we need. We owe him so much,” Chantal says.
The Emery home buzzes with activity with the couple’s other children – Scarlett, 3, and Justine, 12, Danika, 13, and Josh, 16, the trio from Rob’s previous marriage.
Rob says just leaving the house is a mission.
“It takes about an hour to get everyone into the car.
“This is apart from bathing, dressing the children and packing their bag. We don’t even go grocery shopping because they can’t all fit in the car.”
Rob pushes the boys and Scarlett in a stroller to school every morning. Later, he drives Josh to school in Randpark Ridge.
The babies use considerable quantities of milk – up to three tins a week – and nappies. The older kids cook to help out. “It’s usually mac and cheese and other meals they love preparing.”
The family get by with the help of relatives and friends.
Rob and Chantal faced challenges when their medical aid initially wouldn’t cover the bills for all the boys because some of them weighed less than the threshold, but they say things have improved.
“The medical aid really came to the party and has covered everyone. It’s just the small medical bills we have to pay out of our pockets now and then,” says Chantal.
For other parents dealing with premature babies, Rob’s advice is: take it one step at a time.
“No one can plan for tomorrow. You need to be brave.”
As the little boys prepare to take their first steps, have their first swim and spend time in the summer sunshine, those who have witnessed their resilience will always see them as Roodepoort’s champions. They made it – against all odds.