Matthew Ifan and Elgan Siôn Rees, born at just 24 weeks, weighed a mere 1 pound, three ounces, and 1 pound, four ounces at birth, facing slim chances of survival. Their remarkable journey, filled with uncertainty and hope, has finally led them to go home after spending 150 days in the hospital.
Their mother, Tracey Evenden, and father, Mark Rees, are overjoyed to reunite with their sons as they celebrate this heartwarming homecoming. The twins had to be transferred to different hospitals for life-saving procedures, but Tracey, a 38-year-old teacher, has been a constant presence by their side, almost every day, throughout this challenging journey.
Tracey shared, “There were times when we had no idea what the outcome would be, living hour by hour and sometimes fearing that it would be our last night. However, we’ve made it this far, and hopefully, this is the end of it. Everything has been a bit of a blur. The journey has been full of ups and downs. We are thrilled to be able to finally bring them home.”
When the twins were born in October, they were so fragile that their parents, Tracey and Mark, both 34 years old, were given the devastating news that their children might not survive. Mark, who has a 12-year-old son named Ethan with Tracey, said, “We prayed, which is unusual for us.”
He added, “We can’t thank the nurses and the rest of the staff enough; they’ve been phenomenal.”
While the infants may still require ongoing care and treatment, they can now return to their family home in Lampeter, West Wales.
Mark expressed, “We prayed, which we never do,” emphasizing the extraordinary journey of hope and resilience that led them to this joyful day.