“A Story of Heartbreak and Hope” ‘I went to the hospital expecting twins but came home with just one baby’
Keeley Weeks faced a terrifying ordeal when she unexpectedly went into labor at just 23 weeks. Expecting identical twins, she tragically returned home with only one of her children. Her story, which deals with premature birth and baby loss, is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
In February 2023, Keeley visited Colchester Hospital after repeated trips to triage with labor symptoms. “I couldn’t allow myself to believe it was happening. It was far too early,” she said. Despite her hopes that the contractions would subside, labor progressed.
Her twin boys, weighing just 520 grams each—roughly the weight of a small bag of sugar—were born 17 weeks prematurely. They were rushed to the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge, equipped with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Keeley and her husband Ollie followed in silence, overwhelmed with worry, told Essex Live.
In Cambridge, the couple witnessed their tiny sons in incubators, their skin fragile and eyes fused shut. “I was able to give them what is called a comfort hold, placing one hand on the top of the head and one on the feet,” Keeley recalled. “It felt so wrong to be holding my babies through the doors of a plastic box.”
The family found solace in Chestnut House, a ‘Home from Home’ run by The Sick Children’s Trust. “The room was quiet, clean, and warm,” Keeley said. “It had everything we needed and was only minutes from our babies. It lifted a huge weight off our shoulders.”
Tragically, the next morning, they were told that baby Arlo Ray had deteriorated. “We were told there was no more that could be done for him,” Keeley shared. Arlo passed away in his mother’s arms, a moment she treasures as it was made possible by their proximity to the NICU.
While grieving Arlo, Keeley stayed strong for Avi, who faced severe health challenges, including sepsis and breathing difficulties. After 100 days in intensive care and more time at their local unit, Avi was finally fit to go home.
Today, Avi is a thriving 21-month-old with a corrected age of 17 months. Keeley reflected, “Our twins were identical, and I often find myself looking at Avi and picturing Arlo there with him. Avi is a very happy, cheeky boy, and my husband and I could not be more proud of him for everything he has overcome.”
Keeley’s journey highlights the resilience of premature babies and the vital role of neonatal care and support for families navigating such profound challenges.