Islanders rally to support ‘miracle’ triplets born at just 25 weeks

Tuesday 06 March 2018

Islanders have rallied to support the parents of tiny triplets born at just 25 weeks after their mother was taken to the UK in an emergency helicopter following an unexpectedly early labour.

Rebecca and Daniel Bennett welcomed little Willow, Primrose and Jasper into the world last week at Portsmouth Hospital, where the tiny trio will have to remain for several weeks because Jersey does not have the facilities for children born under 32 weeks.

Rebecca’s friend, Jessica Silver, is now raising money to support the family in their time of need after the shock premature birth, which came around three months earlier than expected. 

Sharing her ordeal with Express, mother Rebecca explained how she had first noticed something wrong last Sunday when she started experiencing “mild discomfort in her back and pelvis.” 

By the following morning it had eased off, and the mum-to-be considered waiting until an appointment on Wednesday before bringing it up with the neo-natal unit, believing the symptom to simply be “general pregnancy pains.” But she later resolved to call the maternity ward to schedule a check-up. 

Pictured: New parents Rebecca and Daniel Bennett, who will have to stay in the UK to support their triplets over the coming weeks.

“It was then that I was told I was in labour. I was absolutely heartbroken; I thought I was going to lose them,” she recalled.

Within just 30 minutes, the unit had arranged for her to be transported to Portsmouth Hospital, and she was rushed to the airport by ambulance to catch an emergency flight, while husband Daniel had to take a normal flight there, causing him to miss the birth of his children. 

“It was on the plane that the labour picked up and contractions were coming every minute. My mind was completely numb; I couldn’t focus on anything except trying to keep the babies in until I got to the hospital. On arrival at Portsmouth, I had an emergency C-section and my three babies came out, and were whisked off with no crying. I didn’t know if they were alive,” Rebecca said. 

But the couple were later reunited with their newborns – all three of which were being looked after in incubators, and could be there for some time until doctors are sure that the premature babies are safe. “They are still fighting and we are celebrating each day,” Rebecca added.

Pictured: The tiny trio, clockwise from left - Willow, Primrose and Jasper.

Moved by the new parents’ struggle, which means that they might not be able to move into their new home in April as planned, friend Jessica set up a JustGiving page to help raise money for the family, as “financial stresses are the last thing they need.” 

“They’re an absolutely wonderful family and these babies have been long awaited. It was a blessing for them to find out they were expecting the babies and they’ve not had an easy journey so far. They are such a caring and loving family, they really deserve all the happiness and luck in the world. Setting up the page, I felt was the least I could do and came to happen after discussing with my nanny what I could do to help them. She had the grand master plan of doing a fundraiser and after looking online at the different pages, I came to realise that anybody could set one up. I was overjoyed to be able to help like this as I know they would do the same and more for anybody else in this situation,” she told Express. 

Within an hour of the crowdfunding page’s creation, friends, family and touched islanders had donated over £300. After two days, this total has soared to more than £1,600 – around 80% of the £2,000 Jessica had aimed to raise.

In addition to donations, they shared warm messages of support with the Bennetts. One islander “pray[ed] that the triplets can come home safe and strong”, while another praised how “brave and awesome” the family of five had been.

Responding to the outpouring of well wishes and donations, Rebecca commented: “We are so overwhelmed and touched by everyone’s love and support for our family this past week - it really means a lot to us. We are also so grateful for both Jersey and Portsmouth hospital for their amazing care, which without it our babies would not be here with us fighting.” 

Jessica added: “Many people saying that they have known how hard it has been with just one baby that’s been early or poorly, let alone having three in the same situation. So many people that don’t know them and wanting to help, lots of local charities that I didn’t know about too- it’s really helped restore my faith in humanity! …It’s made me so proud of our island.”

Rebecca hopes that her tale may have another positive effect: raising awareness of prematurity difficulties. “I would urge any woman with any symptom no matter how small to get checked out,” she said.