Youngest premature twins to survive celebrate a hallmark birthday
Mar 31, 2025
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Kelly Grant, a health reporter for The Globe, shares the inspiring story of Adrial and Adiah Nadaraja, the youngest premature twins to survive. Born at just 22 weeks, they recently celebrated their third birthday, defying all odds. Grant discusses their tumultuous journey through the NICU, the emotional dilemmas parents face regarding viability, and how their story could shift discussions on premature care. She highlights the twins' remarkable progress and the new sibling joining their family, bringing hope and joy.
The survival of Adrial and Adiah Nadaraja as the youngest premature twins to thrive at three years old highlights significant advancements in neonatal care.
Their birth raised profound medical and ethical dilemmas regarding viability and intervention, prompting broader discussions on premature birth policies and practices.
Deep dives
Celebrating Survival: A Special Third Birthday
The third birthday of twins Adia and Adriel Nataraja marked a significant milestone, as they are recognized for being the youngest and lightest premature twins to ever survive past their first birthday, being born at just 22 weeks. Their birthday celebration featured typical festivities like cake, inflatable jumpy castles, and the joy of family and friends, highlighting the remarkable journey the twins and their family have experienced. The twins’ survival was not guaranteed at birth, which adds a layer of significance to their celebration, showcasing their growth and resilience over the past three years. Their parents described the twins as typical three-year-olds, with Adriel being adventurous and active, while Adia is a curious and talkative little girl, demonstrating how far they have come from their frail beginnings.
Navigating Early Challenges and Hospital Stays
The early days of caring for Adia and Adriel presented significant challenges for their parents, who faced the constant worry of their twins' health and the threat of hospital visits for illnesses. Over time, the family's experience evolved from focusing on medical emergencies to managing the everyday ups and downs of toddler life, including coping with emotions and tantrums that are a part of growing up. This transition represented a huge relief for their parents, who no longer had to rush to the hospital at the first sign of sickness. The arrival of their baby sister, Alyssa, has also been a source of joy and healing, as it allowed the family to share experiences they missed with the twins during their difficult early medical journey.
The Complex Journey of Premature Birth Decisions
The journey of Adia and Adriel’s birth involved difficult decisions about their care when they were born just before the critical 22-week mark, which determines whether intensive medical interventions can be made. Their parents faced tremendous uncertainty and fought for their newborns’ lives against the medical consensus that favoring comfort care was the standard for such premature births. After a tense series of events, Shakina's transfer to Mount Sinai hospital allowed for the possibility of resuscitation once the babies reached the exact weight and gestational age criteria necessary for medical intervention. This situation highlights the emotional strain and complex ethical considerations that many parents face when confronted with premature deliveries, shaping their experiences as they navigate these life-altering decisions.
This March, Adrial and Adiah Nadaraja turned three years old. Born at 22 weeks, they were the youngest premature twins ever to survive to their first birthday. If they had been born just two hours earlier, health care workers would not have medically attempted their resuscitation.
Today, Kelly Grant joins the show with an update about how Adrial and Adiah are doing, how far the family has come, and how the twins’ birth asked difficult medical and moral questions, but may ultimately help to push the conversation around preemie viability forward.