'They saved their lives': Brave Leeds mum raises appeal for premature twins delivered 9 weeks early

By Alex Grant
Published 22nd Mar 2022, 04:45 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now
A brave Leeds mum has hailed the life saving actions of doctors and nurses as she starts a fundraising appeal for the hospitals that saved her premature twins.

Samantha Armitage's twins, Elijah and Zendaya, were born nine weeks premature following an emergency C-Section.

Read More
Rob Burrow: Celebs dance the night away at glitzy Strictly Come Dancing fundrais...

The decision was made with Elijah at risk of being still born, as he hadn’t grown for over a month.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Since their birth three weeks ago the twins have been in intensive care while Samantha and her partner Ryan went through every parents worst nightmare.Since their birth three weeks ago the twins have been in intensive care while Samantha and her partner Ryan went through every parents worst nightmare.
Since their birth three weeks ago the twins have been in intensive care while Samantha and her partner Ryan went through every parents worst nightmare.

There was an evident issue with blood flow from his cord thus depriving Elijah of sufficient amounts of blood, oxygen & nutrients.

Speaking exclusively to YEP, Samantha explained how grateful she was to NHS staff.

"I think we take for granted how lucky we are to have such good pre-natal units, I know I certainly did but they deserve so much more recognition." she said.

"They are short staffed, they do look rushed off their feet, they don't stop but they still find that compassion and empathy in their job."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Elijah and Zendaya, were born nine weeks premature following an emergency C-Section.Elijah and Zendaya, were born nine weeks premature following an emergency C-Section.
Elijah and Zendaya, were born nine weeks premature following an emergency C-Section.

Since their birth three weeks ago the twins have been in intensive care while Samantha and her partner Ryan went through every parents worst nightmare.

As the couple were forced to put full faith into the doctors, nurses and midwives, the uncertainty left Samantha with crippling anxiety.

"Basically I had no idea I was going to have my babies. They told me I had to stay until I stopped going into labour then I could go home." she explained.

"On the fourth day I went for a growth scan and that's when they told me Elijah was at significant risk of being still born and I just had a panic attack."

Hide Ad