A Little Two Early

At the age of 37 with fraternal twins on the way, Kristin van de Geer and her husband Michael knew that Kristin was at risk for a premature birth. "Of course, you never think it’s going to be you,” she says. “But three months ahead of schedule, I started going into labor."

Kristin arrived at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, where the doctors put her on immediate bedrest. Three days later, the babies decided they were coming into the world. Sophia was born at 7:04 a.m., weighing only 2 lbs. 5 oz. One minute later, brother Damian was born, weighing 3 lbs. 1 oz.. While Kristin could go home in a few days, the preemies made their home in the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for two months, where they grew to be as strong as babies born at full term.

"At the time, it’s so hard…to have to ‘visit’ your babies,” says Kristin. “It’s not what you expected, not having two beautiful babies in your arms. I was angry, I was sad. But at the same time, I was so thankful that they’re here and alive.

"Now, we look back and think of what an amazing, incredible time it was. The superior knowledge, the people who work there…you can just tell that they love their jobs and that this is their passion. We’re so happy to have known them.”

Today the twins are 19 months old. Kristin credits the hospital’s expertise in neonatal care, coupled with compassion. "They are lucky, lucky babies,” says Kristin. “And we are lucky, lucky parents."