One of the twins, who were born in September of this year, weighed 916 grams, and the other weighed 996 grams, so both were under a kilogram on the 9th of September. Bloemfontein police captain and father of the twins, Joseph Carlo, says the twins currently weigh over two kilograms each. Carlo says celebrating World Prematurity Day on Wednesday reminded him of the past few stressful weeks his family had to endure with the growth of their children. He says they weren’t sure whether the twins would make it through this because they were really little when they were born, but currently, they are breathing on their own and off oxygen, as they were previously hooked on machines.

“It was all up to them, they need to do the fighting on their own. They need to grow on their own there is nothing you as a parent can do. You’re sitting there seeing this little person trying to hold onto life, trying to grow and you just sitting there and there is nothing you can do. You know, they always say 'if only I could take my child’s place I would take it' - in that situation you feel like if I could do that for my child, I would,” says Carlo.

Alistine Carlo, mother of the twins and wife of Joseph, tells OFM News that throughout the process she was excited and nervous at the same time, but more excited to get them home soon.

“The process was very scary at first and then it became less scary. The help at Mediclinic Bloemfontein was amazing, the nurses and staff were supporting me very well and made the process much easier,” she says.

OFM News/Blaine Jones