When Christie Hernandez and her husband, Terrence, went for their first ultrasound, they weren’t quite sure what they were looking at on the grainy computer screen. The technician circled her finger over what looked like a little twinkling Christmas light.
“There’s your baby,” she said.
A pause.
She pointed again. “There’s your second baby.”
Christie and Terrence were stunned: Twins. But they had no idea that this was only the first of the unexpected surprises to come.
Just 17 weeks later, Christie gave birth to Theo and Cara. She never had maternity photos taken, the couple hadn’t held a baby shower yet.
Born at just 23 weeks and two days, the twins arrived March 8, 2023, four months before their family had anticipated. Theo weighed 1 pound, 3 ounces; Cara weighed 1 pound, 1.5 ounces.
Theo spent his first 120 days, and Cara, 136 days, in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, cared for around the clock by the NICU nurse team.
Even seemingly small tasks were a challenge when caring for the unimaginably small babies –the smallest size diapers were too large. But the NICU team made it clear: We’ve got this.
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The frightening first days in the NICU
When Theo and Cara were born, they were immediately intubated and placed in warm isolettes in separate rooms. They spent the first days of their lives under constant care and medical supervision.
As new parents, Christie and Terrence were filled with questions when they found out their micro-preemies – babies born before 26 weeks – would be admitted to the NICU.
“We were just scared,” Christie said. “It was very scary and disheartening. The feeling of hopelessness was very real.”
The uncertainty was overwhelming, Terrence said. “It’s hard to describe – you’re feeling everything and feeling nothing because you are just trying to comprehend it all.”
Such feelings are common in parents of preterm babies, a 2023 study reported in The Journal of Pediatrics. That’s why the NICU team worked to show the couple they were not alone. Each year, this team helps around 700 families, caring for not just the preemies, but for their parents as well.
“I cannot say enough for the care team,” Christie said. “They not only educated me on what was happening, they also were patient while I learned everything about being a parent of NICU babies.”
Empowering preemie parents
The NICU nurses taught Christie and Terrence about the medical tools that come with having babies in the NICU, like the nasal cannulas that delivered oxygen to the babies’ lungs, and how to touch and hold preemies while keeping them comfortable. They also provided charts and other information so the parents would know what to expect during each week of growth.
“This is the thing I enjoyed about the time we spent there in the NICU,” Terrence said. “The nurses encouraged us to get involved, change diapers, and learn to be a parent, especially since it’s our first time.”
The nurses ensured that Christie and Terrence felt cared for, too, bringing them water, pillows, and blankets along with patience and empathy.
“I did not expect that kind of compassion,” Christie said. “I expected good care. I expected a plan of action. I really didn’t expect the kindness and compassion that were given, not just to my children, but to us, and to me, as a mom who was there every day.”
Over time, their fears diminished, and the couple felt more at ease.
Celebrating each milestone
As the weeks passed, Theo and Cara steadily grew. The NICU team photographed and documented their progress, sometimes making handmade scrapbook pages for the couple.
“We were always in this constant mentality of ‘OK, what’s going to happen next?’ when we were there,” Christie said. “Sometimes you forget there are things to celebrate. And they made a big deal about celebrating everything.”
Terrence recalls stepping into the babies’ rooms to find the overnight nurses had decorated for St. Patrick’s Day. “It was going above and beyond, almost outside the scope of their job,” he said. “You could feel that they were investing a part of themselves into it. It's really kind of unbelievable.”
On May 2, 2023, Theo and Cara became roommates, meaning they were past the critical-care stage of needing monitoring by separate teams. It was the first time the whole family could be together in one room since the twins were born.
In July, close to their original due date, the babies went home, 16 days apart from each other. Theo weighed 5 pounds, 11.8 ounces; Cara weighed 6 pounds, 5.5 ounces. The NICU care team celebrated each twin’s “graduation” with a bubble parade.
As babies and toddlers, Theo and Cara have thrived. Cara is feisty, bold and fearless, while Theo is quieter, cerebral and observant. They love “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” and “The Wheels on the Bus.” They are delightfully curious, constantly exploring.
“They’re perfect,” Christie said.
The twins have not needed any surgeries or medical interventions beyond standard infant and pediatric care. When the Hernandez family visits the hospital, they make sure to tell the NICU team they’ll be there, so they can say hello.
“This is really something I’m still kind of wrapping my head around: Coming here for medical treatment and leaving with people who are now part of our family and friends,” Terrence said.
