Premature baby was dying – until a nurse put her twin next to her and everyone witnessed a miracle
It has been said that twins share a profound connection from the time they are in the womb. Sibling relationships are tight-knit, and twin siblings are even closer due to their similarities and birth connections. Over the last few decades, the twin birth rate has risen by 70%, per the Radio Health Journal. Dr. Nancy Segal, an author and eminent contributor of twin research, told the publication that twins share a special connection and it boggles the mind of researchers even today. One evident story is that of Brielle and Kyrie Jackson, twin sisters, who were born prematurely in 1995, per The Life Institute. Brielle was fighting for life when Kyrie’s touch turned things around.
The twin sisters were born to Heidi and Paul Jackson at the Medical Center of Central Massachusetts in Worcester, per the Telegram & Gazette. 12 weeks ahead of their time, they were extremely delicate and in need of crucial care. The duo was placed in separate incubators in the NICU to avoid infections. Recalling the time, Paul noted that he was told that nothing was predictable, per CNN. "Things could turn around in the next 48 hours," he recounted, his face changing to the same worry he had years ago. Unfortunately, Brielle's health deteriorated. She had heart problems, breathing problems and her condition started to get critical 3 weeks later.
“The identical twin bond is reputed to be the closest of all social ties,” Segal noted. With her experience over time, she couldn’t help but agree. “It’s the perception of similarity,” the expert said, that brings twins together and so close. Nurse Gayle Kasparian decided to try a lesser-known procedure in the United States. She asked the parents’ permission and placed both twins in the same incubator. It was something that had reportedly not been done in the U.S. before. Call it a miracle or love, but as soon as the incubator was closed with the duo together, Brielle snuggled with her sister and the oxygen rate started returning to normal.
“When I put Brielle in with her sister, it was amazing. She immediately calmed down. Her heart rate stabilized and her color changed,” the nurse recalled. Brielle peacefully rested beside her twin and was held by her sister with one hand over her little back. She eventually recovered, and the twins were healthy and ready to go home. Speaking of the possibility of losing a twin in the womb, the mother had noted, “It is a bereaving process. You’ll always wonder what it would have been like if the twin were around. It’s a grief you carry through life.” Kyrie probably didn’t want to go through this grief, or maybe just needed to be around her sister.
The photo taken at the time of the duo in the incubator, by Telegram & Gazette photo editor Chris Christo, was titled “Rescuing Hug” and it became a hopeful sensation for twin parents. The nurses titled the procedure “Double-bedding” and continued to use the technique for premature twins needing comfort. As for Brielle and Kyrie, the duo remains in sync, united, stronger than ever. Even until the age of 5, the duo slept in the same bed. As they grew into wonderful women, they became each other’s best friends and one could see why; they had a life-saving connection.