When Lucy Nicoll gave birth to triplets at 15 weeks’ premature, it was touch and go whether they would survive.
Fast forward five years, and Havelock North’s Molly, Joshua and Cameron Nicoll have overcome the odds – and thrived. They’re happy, healthy and set to unleash their individual personalities on Te Mata Primary School’s teachers on their first day at school on Monday.
Nicoll says lead-up to the births in Auckland Hospital, at 25 weeks, was harrowing.
“I nearly lost Molly, Josh and Cam 19 weeks through my pregnancy,” she said.
“Due to an operation, rest and luck I managed to hold on to them until the legal day of resuscitation at 25 weeks’ gestation.”
The newborn triplets – Molly was a natural birth, Cameron and Joshua C-section – remained in the neonatal intensive care unit for most of their three-and-a-half-month stay in hospital.
They were discharged the day before their due date.
The trio will on Monday join their older brother, Harry, at primary school. It’s a “huge” milestone for the family, Nicoll says.
The triplet’s hospital treatment and their recent fifth birthday have inspired Nicoll to start a Givealittle to fundraise for The Starship Foundation and The Little Miracles Trust.
“I was inspired by [their] birthdays to enter the Hawke’s Bay Marathon, and commit to raising some money for these amazing charities that do so much for kids all over the country.
“The Little Miracles Trust covers Special Care Baby Units such as the one in Hawke’s Bay as well as higher-risk NICUs. We are also going to create a story-board for the Auckland NICU entrance corridor.”
You can see the full article at The Herald here
Thanks
Thanks Lucy for looking to help make a difficult start to life that little bit easier for neonatal familys. We cannot provide our support to families and their precious babies without ‘Neonatal Heroes’ like you and all the very best with the Hawkes Bay Marathon!
