Mum and dad celebrate their ‘twin Easter miracle’: Gemma and Tilly, born at 32 weeks, now allowed home

Just six weeks ago, Tamika and Brock Larkin were told their unborn twin girls might not survive.

Adorable little Tilly and Gemma Larkin were home in time for Easter, after spending more than six weeks in hospital. Picture: Emma Brasier

Little Gemma and her precious sister double, Tilly, will forever remain their proud parents’ bona fide Easter twin miracle.

The newborn first children of paramedic mum Tamika and welder dad Brock Larkin, were due at the end of this month but were delivered via emergency caesarean section six weeks ago, about 400km from home.

The couple, both aged 28, travelled from Mildura to Adelaide’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital in early March for a routine scan which would give the all-clear for the babies to be born in regional Victoria.

Easter twin babies Tilly and Gemma, from Mildura arrived early at Adelaide's WCH. Picture: Emma Brasier

Instead, a rare complication known as Twin Anemia-Polycythemia Sequence (TAPS) was detected and the babies were delivered the next day on March 3, at 32 weeks gestation, with Gemma weighing 1770 grams and Tilly, slightly smaller, at 1760 grams.

TAPS can lead to serious complications for both twins, including swelling due to fluid build up in one twin and blood clots or heart problems in the other twin.

“Essentially, it’s where one twin is stealing all the red blood cells from the other, so one ends up anaemic with not enough iron or haemoglobin and the other ends up with too much, which is also dangerous,” Mrs Larkin said.

“It was explained to us that the treatment our babies needed could only happen on ‘the outside’ and the safest option was to deliver them … obviously, it was scary, there could be major complications, including foetal death.

“We were warned there was the potential for the girls to be ‘very very sick’.” Picture: Emma Brasier

“We were warned there was the potential for the girls to be ‘very very sick’.”

Given the circumstances, the tiny sisters were remarkably strong, albeit Gemma was healthier than Tilly.

“The doctors were actually shocked by how well they were … obviously they both needed some support as they should have been still cooking inside,” Mrs Larkin said.

“Gemma was ever so slightly bigger even though she was the ‘donor twin’, the one losing her red blood cells to Tilly; it was expected she would be the sicker of the two but in the end it was Tilly who was on the rougher end.”

Baby Tilly was also unable to empty her bladder and required a catheter to be inserted.

“Unfortunately, her bladder got perforated so she required surgery … but we’re all recovered now,” Mrs Larkin said.

The sisters spent about six weeks in special incubator cribs before moving into open bassinets and are now thriving, each weighing about 2.6kg.

Proud first-time mum Tamika Larkin with her precious newborn twin girls, Tilly and Gemma. Picture: Emma Brasier

Baby Tilly and Gemma are thriving after a scary start and emergency C-section. Picture: Emma Brasier

They are doing so well, they are allowed home for Easter – a dream come true for their delighted and proud parents.

“They are absolutely adorable,” the first-time mum said.

“The girls were each getting (their bottle feeds) topped up through their nasal tube but Gemma decided that she was done with that and pulled hers out … thankfully, the doctors decided that Tilly could have hers out too – and that’s why we get to go home.

“We’ve only told a couple of people we are coming home … we are going to surprise most of the family. It will just be nice to just start a normal family life.”

The girls, who will return for a comprehensive check up in six weeks, are now expected to develop normally.

Little Tilly soon after she was delivered. The baby had to undergo surgery. Picture supplied

And what of her husband becoming a “girl dad”?

“He is absolutely stoked … he’ll have them riding motorbikes and helping him in the shed as soon as he can,” she laughed.

The family say they’ll always be grateful for the support of the hospital staff and the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).

“During the delivery I had Brock count how many staff were in the room and there were 20 … obviously that’s a lot of people focused on us,” Mrs Larkin said.

Originally published as Mum and dad celebrate their ‘twin Easter miracle’: Gemma and Tilly, born at 32 weeks, now allowed home