CREVE COEUR (KMOX) -- In November 2019, twin girls were born 13 days apart at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis
Madison and Parker Scott are fraternal twin sisters born almost two weeks apart. Madison was born on November 3rd, 2019, her mom's birthday, weighing 1 pound, 9 ounces and Parker was born November 16th, 13 days later at 1 pound 9.6 ounces. The girls developed their own placentas, which helped Parker get an extra two weeks of development.
With a big smile, Catherine Scott greeted me at the entrance of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Mercy. After we meticulously washed our hands, she showed me to her babies' room. It was calm, warm, and gently lit from the window. Along the windowsill, pink and yellow decorations added pops of pastel color.
Madison and Parker were both awake when I walked in and as I stared at the little babies I couldn't stop the tears from flowing.
Catherine and her husband Andrew have been at the hospital for more than 100 days. As Catherine explained their journey, I was just so moved by their love and dedication.
Attending to their daughters Madison and Parker, who through the advancements of medical care, got a shot at life despite barely making the halfway mark of gestational development.
"She barely made the cutoff for preemies," said Catherine as she gazed down at Madison. She said doctors typically don't work on preemies under a pound or less than 22 weeks gestation.
"The doctors told us that Madison had a 20 percent chance of making it, but she keeps pushing through."
Catherine said doctors told them that Madison's bowel might obstruct, which it did just five days after her birth. It leaked stool in her system and turned Madison's body septic.
"The doctors were not sure that she would have the strength to fight the infection, they told us we might lose her." They treated Madison with antibiotics and she was able to fight it off.
"She made it, she fought, she's here," said Catherine
While visiting them on a Thursday afternoon, little Madison was undergoing physical therapy. Catherine was being instructed on how to give massages to Madison's legs and feet.
"It's all part of introducing positive touch to Madison, who because of all the needle pricks and painful sensations she had from her medical care she had grown quite averse to being touched."
During my brief visit, Madison was calm and relaxed as Catherine gently rubbed her legs and feet with massage oil, Catherine said it was a big improvement compared to previous times.
Meanwhile, Parker cooed from the basinet a couple of feet away, and maybe gave a couple of frustrated hollers when her pacifier would fall out. Catherine said Parker has amazed doctors at how she developed so well."From the get-go every doctor has been shocked by Parker, something just took off with her."
Parker was released from the hospital on Saturday, February, 15th, two weeks before her due date of February 29th. "I was looking forward to the day Parker could come home, but now I am sad to have one baby at home and the other still in the hospital," said Catherine. "The hospital will have a crib here for Parker so I can be with Madison during the day."
Catherine and Andrew said their employers have been extremely supportive throughout the process. Andrew just went back to work and Catherine will continue to attend to her girls, but she said eventually she would like to go back to work two days. In the meantime, they have relied on the support of their community through a GoFundMe fundraiser.
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RARE PAIR: St. Louis premature twins born 13 days apart doing well at Mercy Hospital 1
Catherine ScottRARE PAIR: St. Louis premature twins born 13 days apart doing well at Mercy Hospital 2
Catherine ScottRARE PAIR: St. Louis premature twins born 13 days apart doing well at Mercy Hospital 3
Elise RichRARE PAIR: St. Louis premature twins born 13 days apart doing well at Mercy Hospital 4
Elise RichRARE PAIR: St. Louis premature twins born 13 days apart doing well at Mercy Hospital 5
Catherine ScottRARE PAIR: St. Louis premature twins born 13 days apart doing well at Mercy Hospital 6
