When twins Amber and Daniel were born they could barely wrap their hands around their mother’s finger.  Elise Hartley gave birth to the pair last year when she was just 23 weeks pregnant. Amber arrived on Christmas Eve and Daniel on Christmas Day. “I was thinking this is the sort of thing that happens to other people, not us. It can’t be true, this isn’t right,” Hartley said. 

Hartley was flown to Wellington Hospital because Christchurch’s neonatal unit was full.

Doctors said her babies had a 27 per cent chance of survival and each day she held off giving birth would boost their shot at life. By Christmas Eve night Hartley could not hold on any longer. . . 

To read the full story by Georgina Campbell head to:  www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/79706210/premature-christchurch-twins-get-a-chance-at-life.html