#30DaysofBrave Day 5 - Michelle

After 12 very long years of trying for a family of our own. Following procedures, operations medications, losses and finally IVF. We discovered we were expecting not one, but two very precious little miracles.
Little did we know, our babies would be the very definition of ‘miracle babies’....

At 24weeks Archie and Ava made their entrance into the world. Archie arrived first with one fist in the air like Superman weighing 692g. Ava arrived 28minutes later, and was born in her sac, weighing 602g. Both needed very little intervention, needing only a little oxygen and were both showing us how strong their lungs were by crying, I describe it more as a guinea pig squeak. We knew then that they were a force to be reckoned with. It was a terrifying time but their strength is what we held on to and it has kept us going during the dark days.

Between them they have been ‘resident’ in five different hospitals in the south and we have spent, ten months away from home. (home for us is 90minutes away). We have seen them go down to theatre 11 times since they were born, we have had stoma formation surgeries, closure surgeries, bowel adhesion surgeries, strangulated hernias, a Broviac line, removal of the broviac line and currently waiting in two further surgeries. During the ten months spent in Hospital we have dealt with all sorts, PDA’s, failing kidney and brain bleeds, sepsis, NEC, Stoma’s, Broviac lines, loss of the tip of a little toe due to an arterial line, hernia repairs, ROP.


Archie and Ava both developed NEC and we very nearly lost them both. Archie’s was medically managed at a hospital in London whilst Ava needed a stoma creating in Brighton. We spent six weeks with them in separate hospitals, two hours apart. Stoma reversal was attempted for Ava which unfortunately failed but we are pleased to say her second closure was a complete success

They have just turned one and other than Ava being fed via a Gastrostomy they are both incredibly happy, healthy babies and are thriving. We couldn’t be prouder of them or more thankful to all of the medical team that were part of their journey.