Twins Sarah and Madison Pepper reminds them of their arrival 17 years ago.

In 2008 these twin sisters had the fight of their lives – now 17 years on you won’t believe their journey.

Whenever her twin daughters need motivation to fight their own battles, Brisbane mother Deborah Pepper reminds them of their arrival 17 years ago.

It was a survival story that captured Queensland’s heart when a severe case of toxaemia pre-eclampsia forced Mrs Pepper to have an emergency caesarean at just 25 weeks and saw the three of them fight to stay alive.

Little Madison and Sarah were born weighing 580g and 465g respectively, with both resuscitated and rushed to the neonatal ward, while a critical Mrs Pepper was sent to the ICU with HELLP Syndrome.

Yet despite the hurdles they faced during their time in the hospital, the family miraculously recovered with the help of their dedicated healthcare team.

Now Mrs Pepper prepares for the twins’ 17th birthday on Saturday, just one of the dozens of milestones they have achieved, and yet another that brings triumph and warmth to Mrs Pepper’s heart.

Mrs Pepper said she truly had no words for the help she and her firstborn babies received in 2008.

It took an army to save Brisbane mother Deb Pepper and her twin daughters Sarah and Madison in 2008. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“We feel truly blessed to have been in the best place receiving the best care. They were exceptional,” she said.

“We are forever grateful to the Mater Mothers Hospital and have worked with them over the years.”

Madison came home for Father’s Day after 107 days in the hospital, a very special moment for proud father Kade Pepper. Sarah came home after 146 days and required home oxygen therapy for nine months after developing Neonatal Chronic Lung Disease. And the battle didn’t stop there.

“The girls were in the Growth and Development program, which consisted of many health checks, including hearing, ophthalmology, physiotherapy, psychology, and general height and weight measurements, until they were four years old. While Madison had growth hormone therapy for 10 years,” she explained.

“The girls have been under the care of pediatrician Dr David Moore, every year since they were discharged from the hospital. Next year, when they turn 18, they will be adults and will be discharged.”

The Courier-Mail from 2008.

When we covered the story.

For the girls, this year is all about the excitement of year 12; school formal in June, external exams, graduation, and of course, getting their driver’s licences.

Madison dreams of becoming a pediatric nurse with Mater Education, working in the NICU ward, while Sarah hopes to become a vet nurse. 

“It was very challenging for both of us, while Madison had a 45 per cent chance to survive, I did not – I had a 5 to 10 per cent chance of survival,” Sarah said.

How we covered the story.

Madison and Sarah Pepper as newborns.

“We are very lucky, and over the last few years, we have gotten really close. Next month we have our formal and then graduation in October, so it has been a bittersweet year,” Madison said.

Mrs Pepper stressed that the arrival of her “little champions” couldn’t have been made possible without the dozens of staff who helped.

Just ten staff members from their care team still work at Mater, while others have moved hospitals or industries, or retired.

It took an army to save Brisbane mother Deb Pepper and her twin daughters Sarah and Madison in 2008.

An acting nurse unit manager at the time of the twins’ births, Philippa Robinson still worked as a clinical facilitator. “Where have those 17 years gone. We love it when we hear about what the babies we have helped care for are up to and how they are progressing along,” she remembered. “During their stay, I was overseeing the staff and running the unit. I was also working clinically and helped to care for them before their discharge.” Madison and Sarah said their birthday would be celebrated at a dinner with friends, their parents and 13-year-old brother Blake over the weekend.

 

Originally published as Twins Sarah and Madison Pepper reminds them of their arrival 17 years ago.