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Meet Rylan and Carter

No matter how much we thought we had prepared, we certainly were not expecting our twin boys (Rylan and Carter) to arrive 4 weeks early on September 14, 2006, in the fashion that they did.

Our prenatal care was exceptional. We had no reason to expect anything would go wrong. After a fairly routine cesarean delivery, I was in recovery while my husband Darin accompanied the twins to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the CRH for the medical team to check them over. Moments later Carter went into respiratory distress. The doctors and nurses responded immediately; Darin watched helplessly while the chest of our newborn son beat up and down at a feverish pace.

Later that day when Darin brought the crib to my hospital room, Rylan was the sole occupant. All kinds of terrible thoughts went through my mind before he informed me of Carters struggles in NICU. The days following included careful monitoring, tests, and more tests. While other complications were occurring with Carter, I was down the hall in my hospital room, torn between learning how to be a new mother to Rylan, while anxiously hoping Carter would soon be returned to me.

When Darin wheeled me to NICU for the first time, every single space was occupied by these tiny little miracles with varying levels of challenges, their parents by their side sitting either on an old rocker or borrowed office chair from the Nurses Station. NICU was not home, but the care the doctors and nurses provided was the next best thing. The support from the doctors and nurses helped us sleep a little better at night (what little there actually is with a new baby); they answered all our questions, and explained the purpose of the mask and all the tubes and machines hooked up to our baby boy. We were told Carter would probably stay for five to seven days and daily we would anxiously wait for Doctor Chan’s progress report to tell us when we could reunite Carter with Rylan and meet their big brother (Anthony) at home. Other complications arose and by day eight we knew Carter wasn’t quite ready to leave the NICU “spa”, but we would watch as he grew stronger and by day 13 he was ready to come home.

Throughout his hospital stay the dedicated team of nurses and doctors did everything they could to provide Carter with what he needed to grow and thrive, ultimately preparing him to leave the NICU. We are forever thankful to Doctors Chan, Holland, Godwin, Adolph, and Davey and the amazing team of nurses who provided a nurturing environment and medical expertise that is second to none. No words will ever adequately express our gratitude!

- As told by Terri Ann & Darin Gibson

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