Twin boys born at just 23 weeks defy the odds despite being given 1% chance of survival
Joe and Ashley Keates, 'miracle' twin boys, who were born at 23 weeks gestation on April 16th 2019, were given a 1% chance of survival by medical staff at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
However, Joe and Ashley defied the odds and are both fighting fit at seven months old and living happily at home with their parents, Talia and Oliver Keates, and four other siblings in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. The boys are believed to be the smallest newborns ever to survive in the UK weighing less than 1lb each and spending 129 days in intensive care.
At 17 weeks, there were signs of problems in Talia’s pregnancy. Three weeks later Talia’s waters broke and the boys were born after 23 weeks. They were so premature their eyes were fused shut.
Their mother Talia Keates, a nurse, told The Sun: “When we had the problems before birth, we were told to consider a termination. Then Joe’s waters broke early and they told me he may not survive and could die at birth.”
Mrs Keates continued, “The consultant said it was incredibly rare for both twins to survive such low birth weights. Studies have also shown premature boys are less likely to do as well as girls. It just goes to show what incredible fighters they are. With all these terrible predictions we just had to focus on each day in the hospital and each milestone.”
Talia beautifully said, “Ashley and Joe are my bouncing little miracles. I feel extremely lucky and very grateful. I guess they are one in a million.”
The boy’s father, Oliver Keates, said, “It has been a very traumatic experience but we are just so truly grateful they are here. It has definitely brought us closer together as a family. We’ve been so blessed, they are our little miracle babies that complete our family.”