Sunday People

We’re to be Family will

- By Amy Sharpe and Patrick Hill

THEIR wide smiles clearly show twin tots Leia and Thea Godwin are delighted to be back together.

Leia spent four weeks in hospital after being hit by Kawasaki disease, a rare condition linked to Covid-19, while Thea remained in perfect health.

The five-month-old was discharged last week and reunited with Thea and their sisters Nia, 12, and Gracie, nine.

And lockdown easing from tomorrow in Wales means the girls are set for an emotional reunion with doting grandparen­ts Sue and Paul Godwin, both 60, and Ann, 62, and Alex Murray, 64.

They have been limited to waving through windows but the family can now catch up properly outdoors.

Mum Hannah, 35, said: “We will be having barbecues in the garden. They have been itching to see Leia and the girls.

“A cuddle is off limits but the children are still very excited. Thankfully, all their grandparen­ts are in relatively good health so no one will miss out. This has been a horrible few weeks so we’re delighted to be reunited. Leia and Thea couldn’t stop looking at each other and giggling when we got them back together.”

Leia’s arteries had swelled dangerousl­y due to inflammati­on syndrome Kawasaki disease, risking a life-threatenin­g rupture.

It is thought more than 100 children in the UK have fallen ill with a similar disease and it could be triggered by a reaction to coronaviru­s – although experts stress it is “incredibly rare”.

Hannah noticed Leia had a temperatur­e on April 29 and called 111 when she spotted a rash the next day. She was admitted at Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport when a pinprick rash was found on her feet.

Hannah said: “She was on medication quickly. If not, it could have been fatal.”

Medics suspected Leia had something similar to Kawasaki and she was transferre­d to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff. It took three weeks to stabilise

 ??  ?? DOUBLE ACT: Leia and Thea are reunited
DOUBLE ACT: Leia and Thea are reunited

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