Survival Of 'Micro-Preemie' Quadruplets Is 'Nothing Short Of Miraculous'
November 07, 2017
When Courtney and Cameron Larson started fertility treatments, they were hoping for twins. God blessed them with quadruplets. But the journey wasn't an easy one. Born at just 25 weeks, the micro-preemie quadruplets faced major health battles. And as these quadruplets now head into Kindergarten, their survival is nothing short of a miracle!
Courtney always wanted to be a mom. After marrying her college sweetheart, the couple prayed and prayed for a baby. Sadly, though, doctors found out Courtney suffered from polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition keeping her from becoming pregnant naturally. So, the couple turned to medical treatments, including intrauterine insemination.
RELATED: Couple Faces Infertility For 11 Years, Then Has 4th Of July Quadruplets
The price tag was hefty but well worth it in the couple's opinion in order to start a family. Still, because of all of the difficulty and expense that went along with the procedure, they hoped for twins. But God had bigger plans - quadruplets!
Credit: Washington PostMicro-Preemie Quadruplets Face Major Challenges
Babies born before 26 weeks are considered “micro-preemies.” Unfortunately, micro-preemies face many challenges. Their survival rate is improving but is still at 72%. And survival without “moderate to severe neurodevelopmental impairment” is only 43%. And in the Larson's case, the survival rate for all four babies in a set of micro-preemie quadruplets is even lower.
Courtney gave birth to two boys and two girls: Cooper, Brody, Ashlyn, and Kylie. Their weight ranged from 1 pound 15 ounces for Brody to 1 pound 5 ounces for Kylie, and all four babies were born with a hole in their heart.
RELATED: Miracle Baby Survives Surgery That Stopped His Heart For 15 Hours
It was a scary time. The micro-preemie quadruplets spent between 121 and 137 days at the neonatal intensive care unit in Rochester, NY before heading home. Brody and Ashlyn underwent surgery at just 2 weeks old to close the holes in their hearts. Kylie had her surgery at 10 weeks old. Cooper waited until he was four to have his hole closed nonsurgically via a catheter through his leg.
Doctors didn't know if the babies would survive. But God is good. Each one of the micro-preemies pulled through!
Growing Miracles
Even after the micro-preemie quadruplets headed home, there were still plenty of health struggles, from feeding tubes to surgery complications. Poor Brody even had major bleeding in his brain. Doctors warned that if it continued, cerebral palsy and other developmental problems would likely occur.
But God saw each of the babies through their struggles. In fact, Brody's bleeding completely resolved itself without any medical intervention. Courtney said their survival is "nothing short of miraculous."
Pictured: Courtney snaps a photo as the grown-up micro-preemie quadruplets get ready to head to Kindergarten, a huge achievement considering their rough start to life Photo Credit: Jackie MolloyNow 5 years old, the grown-up micro-preemie quadruplets head into Kindergarten. It's always a big milestone for families. But for Courtney and Cameron, who weren't sure they'd see all four of their beloved children make it this far, it's a huge celebration and testament to God's faithfulness.
Life With Quadruplets
While the quadruplets still have scars and some complications from their rough start, thankfully they have no memories of the surgeries and pain they experienced as babies. For the most part, they are happy, healthy children and physicians assure the family the quadruplets are going to be pretty normal.
Credit: Jackie MolloyThe faith-filled family captured the attention of photographer Jackie Molloy in 2014. At the time, Jackie was a student in a photojournalism class and a friend introduced her to the Larsons. She began photographing the family as a part of a college assignment. But soon it became clear it was no coincidence their paths crossed.
RELATED: 14 Photos Of Preemie Babies Who Defied The Odds
As Jackie visited to take pictures, she formed a close bond with the whole family. In fact, she suffers from the same polycystic ovary syndrome as Courtney. For Jackie, who fears she won't be able to have children, Courtney is a great source of inspiration.
And so, Jackie continued documenting the family's lives even after her class assignment ended. She named the photo series "Love and Chaos" and hopes to continue until the quadruplets are 18 years old.
“Family is the root of my passion for storytelling,” Jackie explained. “The [Larson] piece has a lot of themes throughout it, from fertility to raising multiples and what that looks like, as well as religion.”
Through her "Love and Chaos" photo series, Jackie aims to document what life with quadruplets is really like.
As Jackie's title suggests, life in the Larson household can certainly get chaotic. But it's also filled with so much joy!
Here, Courtney sings the children's rhyme "Five Little Monkeys," as Ashlyn, Kylie, and Cooper jump across the boys' beds.
Credit: Jackie MolloyWith Courtney and Cameron outnumbered by an army of little ones, Jackie often marvels at how smoothly the house runs. She's in awe of Courtney's "ability to hold everything together."
RELATED: Husband With Lung Condition Beats Coronavirus And Credits Prayer for Incredible Story Of Survival
“She’s a wonderful mom,” Jackie said, “and I expected to find a superhero costume hiding in a closet somewhere. Cameron is a loving and involved dad.”
It's the deep vein of love and commitment that runs through this family that has kept Jackie coming back to take more and more photos.
Credit: Jackie MolloyHere, the couple is enjoying some horsing around time in 2014.
With the quadruplets consuming so much of their time, Courtney and Cameron don't get a whole lot of time together as a couple.
“You definitely have to put more effort into spending time together; to plan time to get a babysitter you have to really plan it out,” Courtney said. “It’s not as simple as, ‘Let’s just go out and see a movie.’ ”
So, they soak in the quiet moments together when they can.
A Blessed Family
And God clearly had a purpose for bringing Jackie into the Larson's lives. She's not just documenting the precious moments shared by this beautiful family.
Credit: Jackie MolloyShe's witnessing the beauty of God's heart at work. She's there to see how He's working to restore these four miracles, as well as how this faithful family honors Him first.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 1 In 15 Million Identical Quadruplets Return To Hospital More Than A Year Later
"Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court." Psalm 127:3-5
h/t: Washington Post
Featured Image: Jackie Molloy
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Peace around the World This Christmas - Your Daily Prayer - December 3
As Christ's followers, we must also be FOR those who are in need, not content to live comfortably and blind to the spiritual war going on around us.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Peace around the World This Christmas - Your Daily Prayer - December 3
As Christ's followers, we must also be FOR those who are in need, not content to live comfortably and blind to the spiritual war going on around us.
Past Stories
- Family Receives Support From School and Community After Losing House in a Fire
- Soldier Reunites With His Military Dog Yyacob After Years Apart
- Chicago Man Discovers That The Owner Of The Bakery He Loved To Visit Was Actually His Mother
- Husband Pays For 40 Pet Adoptions At Shelter For His Wife's 40th Birthday
- Parents Find Healing After Loss of Son By Donating His Beloved Key Collection To Little Boy
- Mom Dances With Son At His Wedding After Being Placed in Hospice Care 2 Weeks Before
- Grandmother and Young Granddaughter Battling Cancer At the Exact Same Time
- Community Brings Christmas Joy to Virginia Woman With Just Weeks to Live
- Four Friends Recreate A Fun Vacation Photo From 50 Years Ago
- School in Arkansas Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Emotional Support Dog Abby
- 93-Year-Old Has Made Sure To Attend Every High School Football Game Since 1946
- Texas Mom Doesn't Remember Delivering Triplets After Rare Complication After Birth
- United Airlines Pilot Buys Pizza For 155 Passengers After They Make An Unexpected Stop
- Teenager With Down Syndrome Enjoys Playing Kickball After Parents Organize Neighborhood Game
- Woman in Shock After Finding Winning Lottery Ticket At the Bottom of Her Purse
- Australian Couple Walks Into Their Bedroom To Find the Cutest Koala
- 5 Boys and Their Father Were Saved By Good Samaritan After Explosion
- Daughter of WWII Soldier Finally Learns What Happened To Him, 80 Years Later
- Sisters Scream With Joy Watching Their 4-Year-Old Sister Take Her First Steps
- Her Mom Put a Message in a Bottle As a Child, 26 Years Later Her Classmate Found It
- This Missouri School Was Renamed After Their Much Loved and Dedicated Custodian
- Michael Strahan's Daughter is Now Cancer Free and Has Taught Him All About Perseverance
- These Two Newlyweds Found Love in Their Late 90s, After Meeting At Their Retirement Home
- Sisters Who Were Adopted By Separate Families Nearly 40 Years Ago Reunite After DNA Tests
- Oldest Living Person in the US Passes Away at 115, After a Long and Faithful Life
- At Just 20 and 22 Years Old, These Two Sisters From Minnesota Saved Their Family Farm
- After Over 450 Days in a Shelter, Boone and Rellie Find Their Forever Home, Together
- Sweet Kitten Named Coraline Loses Both Her Eyes, but Inspires Many with Her Spirit
- Donny Osmond Sees the 'End of the Tunnel' Coming After Performing for Over 6 Decades
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's Dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
Top Music Videos
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Gaither Vocal Band Gaither Vocal Band - Mary, Did You Know? [Live]
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson Captivates with Heartfelt 'My Jesus' Live Performance
CCM Magazine 3 Doors Down’s Brad Arnold Shares Message of Faith During Nashville Concert
CCM Magazine Randall Goodgame’s ‘Scripture Hymnal’ | ‘In The Beginning’
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.