A MOTHER of twins believed to be the first born with Covid-19 in Britain says she feels ‘blessed’ as they celebrate their first Christmas together.
Sarah Curtis, 34, from Distington, Cumbria, says celebrating the festive period with her family is the ‘greatest gift’ she could ever ask for.
She was told she had contracted the virus just five days before giving birth to the twins, Kenna and Lissa.
When they were born 10 weeks early on July, 3 weighing just 3lb, Sarah was told they had also tested positive for coronavirus.
But after being monitored for six weeks at West Cumberland Hospital they were given the all-clear to return home.
Speaking on her terrifying ordeal, Sarah said: “I was genuinely so afraid that I was going to lose them – it was so terrifying and paralysing.
“I could have lost them, I could have died there in the hospital – but we’re here now looking forward to celebrating Christmas together as a family.
“I count every day the blessings that I’ve got them. They fill me with so much joy and you never get tired of every smile. Just grateful for them.”
Along with Covid, Sarah also had to overcome ‘twin to twin’ syndrome, which she suffered from.
The syndrome is a prenatal condition in which twins share unequal amounts of the placenta’s blood supply resulting in the two foetuses growing at different rates.
Sarah had to travel 300 miles to London from West Cumberland Hospital for laser surgery which she was told would correct the issue, but after was told she would lose one of the twins.
She said: “It was a miracle that both twins survived.
“The last week in the hospital felt like a prison sentence.
“But thankfully the staff were just brilliant. Without them I don’t know if I’d be here today, and I don’t know if I’d have my two beautiful babies.”
The pair who are now five months old and healthy, are said to be settling into family life as the first Christmas with their family beckons.
The twins will get pendants just like all her other children have, but they will get them when they’re older.
The mother of five added that she feels extremely grateful to be with her family this week as she and husband Aaron, 33, lost their daughter Lottie to cot death just before Christmas in 2017.
She said: ‘This is a hard week for us. The twins are the same age Lottie was when we lost her, so I just think a lot of people take their children for granted.
“We just smother them with love and enjoy every moment.
“And I am just so happy to have them all here by my side.
I’m so grateful this Christmas for these kids. That we’re all still here. We haven’t lost anyone through Covid and we’re all healthy.
“Being with my family, with my children, it’s the greatest gift we could ever hope for.
“This year has put everything in perspective for us and I couldn’t be happier.
“It’s not what’s around the tree but who is around the tree – and I’m so happy with who is around the tree.
Sarah and Aaron plan for her mum and sister to join them for Xmas dinner, along with their son Roick, nine, and daughter Marcey, seven.
