Premature babies reunite at first day of school
Premature triplets, Chloe, Rachel and Robbie Widger, 4, began their first day at Monaleen National School in Limerick with four-year-old Sam Prendergast, who also arrived into the world ahead of his due date.
All four children spent several weeks together in the neonatal unit of the Mid-Western Regional Maternity Hospital in Limerick. Little did they know that four years later they would be reunited again starting in the same school on the same day.
“These are the days you dream of when you are in the neonatal unit and you think they will never arrive,” said Yvonne Widger. “The triplets were born on Valentine’s Day 2007, eight weeks early. Rachel was the buster of the group and she weighed three pounds 12 ounces, Chloe was three pounds six and Robbie was the smallest at three pounds five.”
The triplets, who also have a three-year-old sister Emma, were delighted to be starting school, and neighbours and friends gathered at the Widger home from early morning to offer their good wishes.
“It was like Christmas morning, the kids had asked for pancakes and bacon for breakfast and neighbours called with cards and presents for them,” their proud mum said.
“It’s true to say that with triplets there is triple the work but it’s triple the fun too and we are just so proud of them today and so excited for them, It’s also very emotional for us to see Sam,” she added.
Sam Prendergast was born three days after the triplets on February 17, 2007, and was three months premature.
“Sam was just two pounds when he was born and when he was in the neo natal unit we just had to take one day at a time,” explained his mum Maria.
“You dream about these moments but thank God Sam is a very healthy little boy and we are just so proud of him today and how far he has come.”
