Premature twins who could fit in the palm of their dad's hands weighed just 3lb each
06.06.2022 - 19:07
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A dad-of-three whose twin babies were so small when they were born they could fit in the palm of his hands has set himself a challenge to thank the people who saved them. George Burghel and wife Heather, who are also parents to two-year-old Joseph, had twins Diana and Elias a worrying 10 weeks early and they were born weighing just 3lb each.
The tiny twins were treated at three different hospitals due to complications as a result of their early arrival. Both babies were ventilated, causing anguish for their parents.
George, 39, said: “They needed urgent medical care as they were so premature and small so they were treated at hospitals in Stockport, Tameside and Preston. They had to be ventilated and suffered quite a few complications.
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Elias had to be on a ventilator for five says and Diana needed a non-invasive form of ventilation to help her breathe. Elias also had to have antibiotics for an infection, and required a blood transfusion due to severe anaemia.
They spent two weeks at Preston, and then another six weeks being cared for at Stepping Hill, and Heather says she has ‘never appreciated the NHS so much’.
"At the time they were small enough to fit one each on the palms of my hands." George, a Principal Clinical Scientist at St Mary's Hospital, now wants to give back to the hospital that is not only his work place but the lifesavers of his family.
The twins were born back in August 2016. He says: "Thankfully now there are no long-term effects and that’s thanks to the great care we received in the NICUs. They will be turning six this August and they are so lively – you wouldn’t know what they went through when they were