A Bloemfontein couple is beaming with double joy after the successful treatment of their identical twin boys, King and Kingston Pebane.
The twins had a stay of 26 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Life Rosepark Hospital in Bloemfontein after they had been born prematurely.
Dr Hennie Snyman, paediatrician, and Dr Gerrit van der Spoel, obstetrician and gynaecologist, ensured they were in good health upon being discharged to go home on Friday, 19 January.
Having been born on 13 October, the twin sons of Karabelo and Tshegofatso Pebane were 98 days old when discharged, without complications.
“This is amazing considering their prematurity, especially their birth weights – and they were ventilated for 17 days,” said Hannika Struwig, spokesperson for the hospital.
At birth King weighed 490 g, and when discharged his weight was 2,100 kg. At birth Kingston weighed 430 g, and when discharged he weighed 1,805 kg.
This makes them the smallest preemies under 500 g to have been cared for in Rosepark.
“I was fasting for 12 hours for them to pull through,” said Karabelo.
“This is amazing, this is the day they were due to be born (19 January). This is an utmost honour to have them home in a healthy state, considering the initial journey of their birth. We are doing so well, and the twins are also in great spirits and have settled well at home the past few days since being discharged from the hospital.”
Karabelo said the recovery of their twins was an amazing story.
“Them being discharged without any medical complications after the days of their stay in the intensive care unit earned them the title of Africa miracle twins from us and from their immediate fanatics.
“Moreover, their story is about the beauty of humankind’s natural will for survival.
This is a story about endurance, hope, inspiration, and love for us.”
Upon their journey home, the hospital staff and surgeons had a guard of honor for the twins and their parents at the main entrance.
