Easter photoshoots are renowned for capturing moments of pure adorableness, especially when they involve babies and young children. However, for Briana and Jordan Driskell, these photoshoots have taken on a deeper significance as they’ve become a cherished tradition for their extraordinary family of quintuplets – Zoey, Dakota, Hollyn, Asher, and Gavin.
The Driskell family’s story becomes even more remarkable when you consider the odds. Conceiving quintuplets is an incredibly rare occurrence, with a staggering chance of one in 50 million, making their tradition all the more extraordinary.
The journey to bring these five children into the world was nothing short of miraculous for Briana and Jordan. As first-time parents, discovering they were expecting quintuplets was an emotional roller coaster. Their path to conception was far from simple; the couple faced over two years of struggles and challenges.
Recalling those trying times, Briana shared with TODAY, “It was the worst emotional roller coaster I’ve ever experienced.” Months of anticipation and hope were often met with the disappointment of negative test results. It wasn’t until their fifth fertility treatment that the couple finally saw signs of pregnancy. “With every attempt, we were blessed with a child,” Briana fondly stated.
Briana’s pregnancy journey began with immediate symptoms, a clear sign that life was flourishing within her. However, her pregnancy experience wasn’t without its difficulties. Right from the start, she could only stomach cold cereal with bananas, as any other food would trigger nausea. Additionally, Briana was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition characterized by severe nausea and vomiting that affects around 2% of expectant mothers in the United States.
The couple’s greatest astonishment came during an eight-week ultrasound when they learned they were expecting quintuplets. The news left them in awe and disbelief. Considering their journey through reproductive procedures involving intrauterine insemination (IUI), the likelihood of Briana having triplets or more was estimated to be only 4-8% by her physicians.
Around the 22-week mark, a distressing revelation struck – Briana’s cervix was shortening, a condition that could lead to premature labor. This revelation led her to the hospital, where she was confined to bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy.
Due to concerns over preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening condition marked by high blood pressure, the quintuplets were delivered via caesarean section at the University of Kentucky’s Chandler Hospital when Briana was 28 weeks pregnant. The delivery was swift, but complications stemming from preeclampsia kept Briana separated from her newborns for an additional day.
When Briana finally laid eyes on her quintuplets, emotions overwhelmed her. She recounted, “When I finally saw them, I was crying so hard that I couldn’t breathe. I still cannot comprehend I am a mother. It’s unbelievable.” The quintuplets arrived with varying weights, with Zoey being the lightest at 1 pound and 13 ounces, and Hollyn weighing the most at 2 pounds and 6 ounces.
Although Zoey arrived as the smallest of the quintuplets, her vigor and determination are unmatched. Briana shared, “Zoey has been throwing her hospital hat around. She’s very determined.”
After a few days of hospital stay, Briana was finally released, and the quintuplets began their journey in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) until they were strong enough to return home.
This heartwarming journey of quintuplets – from conception, the trials of pregnancy, and their triumphant birth – serves as a testament to the extraordinary strength, love, and resilience that Briana, Jordan, and their remarkable children embody.
