One year on and at-risk twins are all set for Santa
Twelve months ago adorable twins Aila and Orla Eccles were clinging on to life in intensive care.
Today they are sitting comfy on Santa’s knee.
The sisters were born 10 weeks early after their mum Sharon’s pregnancy ran into trouble.
Sharon, 37, had broken her waters 10 weeks early and her obstetricians at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital fought to keep the twins alive in the womb until they were big enough to be born.
Medics delayed birth and fended off the infections that so often accompany broken waters.
Then, when the girls were born, Sharon became desperately ill after losing 15 pints of blood – almost twice the body’s volume.
Sharon, a nurse, said: “I survived thanks to a new piece of blood-saving equipment that transfused it back into me. I was among the first to use it.”
But the days and weeks after were critical.
Only the skills of the medical, nursing and midwifery teams saved all three.
“We made it against all odds,” said Sharon.
Aila and Orla, along with her older child Sam, aged three, were born thanks to fertility treatment.
“I was told I would probably never have a family,” said Sharon.
“My husband Alan and I travelled to the Czech Republic where I had donor eggs implanted.
“There was no guarantee I would become pregnant.
“But having three lovely children has given us both huge joy.
“Alan is home on leave from his offshore job.
“It will make a huge difference from last year, when he spent all Christmas driving back and forth to hospital.”