The world’s most premature twins have celebrated their fourth birthday after defying the odds and thriving.
Despite doctors warning that they would likely not survive being born, the world’s most premature twins celebrated their fourth birthday on 4 March.
Adiah Laelynn and Adrial Luka Nadarajah, from Canada, were born in 2022 at only 22 weeks gestation, 126 days before they were due. Together, they weighed only 750 grams, meaning they also hold the record for being the lightest twins ever born.
Now, four years later, these tiny twins are thriving and are looking forward to soon starting school together.
When asked what their favourite thing about being twins was, they replied together, “We love being twins”.
Twins “doing really well” after four years, mother says
The twins’ mother, Shakina, was told to prepare for the worst when she went into labour early. Due to being so small and born so early, the twins’ skin was not fully formed, and their eyes were fused shut. They could each fit into the palm of their mother’s hand.
“But I remember looking at them and thinking they looked absolutely perfect and they were so beautiful”, Shakina said, adding, “The twins were in the NICU [Neonatal Intensive Care Unit] for six months and they were in critical condition for many months”.
“But despite all the major health challenges that they faced, they fought very hard to overcome each challenge and they graduated from their NICU stay six months later”, she said.
Their mother added, “Their health over the past four years has been overall really good. They’ve been in the hospital a few times for minor sicknesses but they are doing really well in hitting all of their physical, mental, cognitive, social and emotional milestones”.
“We’re thankful overall that the children have defied all of the odds and they’re healthy, happy children”, she stated.
Their father, Kevin, said, “Their personalities are really interesting, they are two unique people”.
“Adiah is a very cheerful little girl who loves adventures, she loves speaking out loudly and being the centre of attention in the room. She’s very musical, she’s taken up an interest in playing the guitar and piano and she likes singing. She has some favourite songs and she also enjoys pretend stories and playing with her Barbies”, he said.
“Adrial, on the other hand, is a very curious and studious boy. He likes his books, he likes reading stories, he loves visiting the library to borrow books every week, and he enjoys one-on-one moments where he’s able to go out with mom and dad and enjoy eating a meal”, Kevin added.
Parents hope the records will be broken due to advances in medical technology
The twins’ parents have said that they hope the records of the twins’ births will be broken, as advances in medical technology are seeing the survival rates for babies born extremely prematurely increase.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said “The news that Adiah and Adrial are now celebrating their fourth birthdays together after such premature births is very heartening”.
“Advances in medical technology are really improving the chances of survival of extremely premature babies, and we hope to see these chances continue to improve as time goes on”.
“We wish the twins the very happiest of birthdays, and hope they enjoy everything the next year has in store for them”.
