Preemie Baby Is Close to Dying until Twin Sister Gives Her a Hug

More than two decades ago, a Massachusetts hospital recorded a miracle that clashed with science after the birth of the Jackson twins. One of the babies was declared dying until she received a gentle touch from her twin sister.

On October 17, 1995, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a hospital in Westminster, Massachusetts, welcomed a set of twins from Mrs. Heidi Jackson.

But unlike a typical pregnancy, Heidi only carried the fetuses for six months before they were born prematurely. In addition, the nature of the delivery needed intensive care, as it was unlikely that the children would survive.

The sisters were kept in separate incubators, hoping to reach maturity in a short time. However, one of the babies began looking healthy while her twin struggled to stay alive.

Then a nurse breached hospital protocol by placing both girls in the same incubator. This move led to the emergence of what is widely known as the "rescuing hug."

THE JACKSONS WELCOME A SET OF TWINS

Paul and Heidi Jackson knew that their babies should not have been born more than ten weeks early. But, while they were excited about the newborns, Kyrie and Brielle, they soon realized the danger of having them too early.

However, the nurses and doctors were considerate enough to fight for the premature twins, so they gave them a shot at remaining alive by keeping them in different incubators.

NURSE GAYLE KASPARIAN GOES AGAINST HOSPITAL PROTOCOL

One of the twins, Kyrie, started gaining weight. Conversely, her sister Brielle dealt with many health conditions and only amassed 2 pounds.

Nearly one month after their births, Brielle's case worsened, she struggled to breathe, and her heart rate declined drastically.

The doctors were quick with their response, trying so many medical procedures, but nothing worked. That was when nurse Gayle Kasparian thought about going against hospital rules by placing the girls in the same incubators.

Her sense of compassion and belief triggered her pioneering actions in the "Kangaroo Care," a process when premature babies experience skin-to-skin touch with their mothers for bonding.

Even though it was something that had never been done in the history of the US, it established a groundbreaking pattern.

THE POWER OF THE "RESCUING HUG"

As soon as Kyrie, the stronger and healthier twin, was put next to her sister, she stretched her arm around Brielle's body. In that instant, the struggling twin's heart rate and temperature normalized.

Luckily, a photojournalist captured the event, and the news about the miracle of touch spread.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

The twins seem to have remained close even as teenagers. Nearly a decade ago, they gushed about their similarities during an interview, claiming they sometimes talk simultaneously.

That's not all; they also mentioned that one twin could be thinking about the same song and lyrics as the other. In their words:

"Sometimes, we speak at the same time. Or one person is thinking like, 'oh, are you thinking of a song? Yeah, the same exact part.'"

The girls added that they read about their stories and are fascinated. They still share hugs, and Brielle confessed that Kyrie is always near to help her whenever she is sad.