Viral 'Quad Squad' babies undergo life-saving surgery--it's a success!
A couple who went viral earlier this month for their rare pair of identical twins breathed a sigh of relief Thursday night: An emergency operation was a success.
The couple, Ashley and Tyson Gardner, shared the good news with their 150,000+ Facebook followers:
"Miracles continue to take place. ALL the babies survived the surgery, they heard 4 heartbeats today!"
The Utah couple had to fly to California to save the babies after one of the two sets of twins developed twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Also known as TTTS, the rare condition happens when there is an unequal share in the blood supply between a set of twins in the womb. Now that they have returned to Utah, Ashley is on strict bed rest until the babies come.
Many have been inspired by their story since a photo of Ashley learning the news of her quadruplets went viral.
The moment was especially emotional because the couple has been trying to have children for eight years and has tried many different methods. In Vitro Fertilization helped them to finally conceive. The couple is publicly documenting their journey because they would like to inspire hope for others who have struggled with infertility.
Doctors estimate twins only occur in about 1 percent of IVF cycles. Only 2 percent of all pregnancies result in one set of identical twins, medical researchers at the University of Pennsylvania report. And out of those, just 30 percent are identical twins. Doctors put the odds of having two sets of identical twins from different placentas at one in 70 million.
The Gardners' four baby girls have a due date in March, but according to the family's website, the babies are more likely to be delivered around the end of the year.
