Life Miracles

Our four little miracles: Parents celebrate christening of their plucky ...

A set of 'miracle' quadruplets have celebrated a landmark occasion their parents thought they would never see.

Sixteen-month-old girls Bethany, Millie, Ellie and Lucy were christened at a church service on Sunday after fighting for survival for more than a year.

They weighed only 7lb 6oz between them when they were born via a caesarean on January 28, 2010.

Parents Marc Hanley and Gillian Holden defied odds of 750,000 to one when they conceived the babies naturally.

The couple were shocked to be told they were going to have identical triplets at an 11-week scan, but doubly so when, five weeks later, another scan revealed a fourth nonidentical baby.

They were born at just 28 weeks after their mother was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a condition which causes high blood pressure and can lead to strokes and even death.

Bethany was the first to be born, weighing 1lb 15oz, followed by Millie (2lb 2oz) and Ellie (1lb 7oz). All three are identical. Lucy came last, weighing 1lb 14oz.

Gillian said: 'There have been times when we thought we wouldn't see this day so we're really overwhelmed.

'It's just wonderful eventually getting them all together and finally having them christened.'

The quads needed special care after their premature arrival in January last year and all four suffered from chronic lung disease.

Ellie, in particular, has been extremely poorly and almost didn't pull through. She has been battling a severe chest infection and only left hospital on Saturday - just in time for the big day.

Gillian said: 'The others have got chest infections at the moment so they've been poorly and Ellie has been in hospital for three days.

'We wanted to get them christened at six weeks but they were in hospital. Then we thought about doing it at the end of last year, but Ellie ended up in hospital again.'

Marc said: 'There were a few days when we didn't think we'd see this day. Ellie will be OK, she just needs a bit of help.'

They attended St Stephen's Church in Kearsley, Lancashire along with their first child Abbie.

Gillian said: 'Life at home is very hectic, but Abbie is really good with the babies. We don't have a lot of time to spend with her but she's fantastic with them.'

The Rev Kevin Wainwright led a short service which was attended by about 70 family members and friends.

The Simple Life: Miracle Workers

I used to wonder what the modern day "Lazarus moment" looks like...the miracles documented in the New Testament do not seem to find a home today, at least not in such a visual and tangible form. I wonder no more. I've not blogged much about it, but for those close to us, you know C had a terrible, freak accident on the eve of his birthday. He learned the tough way that you do not tackle and choke hold a sleeping German Shepherd to "hug" goodnight. C had gone up to bed, I was in the kitchen washing dishes, and he snuck back downstairs for "one more hug and kiss goodnight." As his feet padded toward the kitchen I heard "goodnight 'koda," a yelp/growl, then screaming. I ran into the living room to see blood gushing out of C's head and what I could not tell was if the injury was to C's eye, head, or both. I lost it...as in lost-it-in-the-worst-way-in-front-of-your-kid lost it. I get the chills, sweats, and a stomach ache just writing this. I grabbed a dishtowel, put it on C's head, picked him up, then I started screaming and crying. Yep, totally lost it. M ran downstairs, saw the chaos, and off to the closest ER we went. I was in a panic- still don't know how I got us safely to the ER while M was in the backseat with C. We opted not to drive to the Children's Hospital about 40 miles away; we figured with so much blood lost and not knowing if the eye was injured, we needed the closest ER. And I get so angry when I think about this, but still, God was working. The ER took us back almost immediately, despite not being able to find my insurance card and a jam-packed waiting room. And then we waited...and waited...and waited...and in 2.5 hours not only did my child not even get a BANDAGE for his head (thank goodness for the dishtowel), but we literally had to ask for pain relief. Finally, he was given codeine, antibiotics, and at least was getting doped up enough that he could calm down. He was pitiful, just pitiful. All I could do at that point was pray...I was crying, and anger bubbling over inside...it's such a helpless feeling to see your child injured, in severe pain, and there is nothing you can do to make it better. I now understand how some folks just "lose it." Hounding the nurses and the ER docs didn't bring answers quickly- the docs were stumped. And while they should have made this call much earlier in the evening, not 2.5 hours later, the decision to transfer C to another hospital was the best ever.

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