| Born at almost 26 weeks the Frommeyer twins developed against the odds. Jakob and Madeleine were 2lbs 7 oz and 1lb 13 ozs respectively and were immediately put on a ventilator and welcomed in the Brigham and Women’s NICU. Within 24 hours we all become very aware of how dire their condition was. Both were maxxed out on the ventilator, both received Surfactant and both struggled everyday to live. Within a few weeks the doctors prepared our family for the worst scenario. Jakob had received all the support available and given his two brain hemorrhages he was sure to live with brain damage, cerebral palsy, retarded development, and they also explained he may never walk, talk, or eat on his own, They asked our family to consider how much longer we would like to sustain him at this level given the long term prognosis. We did. WE knew that we would keep fighting as long as he would keep fighting. Madeleine faced significant lung issues and needed continual support on the ventilator. They remained in that NICU for 3.5 months when they graduated to the South Shore Hospital where they remained for an additional month.
Given all those challenges and the many times there bodies quit and then were resuscitated, they left th4e South Shore Hospital in January 2003 without any life support or need for mechanical medical support. We welcomed them home with few medications which they matured out of quickly.
Jake and Maddy are now 5 years old and 4 years ago they welcomed their little sister Julia. We were blessed that Julia arrived without event and with utter joy.
The March OF Dimes impacted my twins even when I didn’t even know it through their impact on research, the development of life saving drugs like Surfactant and their dedication to all babies.
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