A Queensland couple had been planning to have children but failed in getting pregnant. After in-vitro procedures, Kate Ogg and her husband David were finally getting some good news: they would be the parents of twins and finally, their wishes were fulfilled. But six months into the pregnancy, Kate began feeling as if she was going into labor, so she rushed to the hospital. It would be a day she never forgot, a day that turned Kate’s and David’s lives around!
A Queensland couple had been planning to have children but failed in getting pregnant. After in-vitro procedures, Kate Ogg and her husband David were finally getting some good news: they would be the parents of twins and finally, their wishes were fulfilled. But six months into the pregnancy, Kate began feeling as if she was going into labor, so she rushed to the hospital. It would be a day she never forgot, a day that turned Kate’s and David’s lives around!
Kate and David Ogg were going to finally be parents for the first time. But it seemed like the twins were in a hurry when they wanted to be born at only 26 weeks. Kate had no idea that she would be the one to perform a miracle that day… Kate and David Ogg were going to finally be parents for the first time.
But it seemed like the twins were in a hurry when they wanted to be born at only 26 weeks. Kate had no idea that she would be the one to perform a miracle that day…
Kate and David were a happy couple that wanted to have a family of their own. After in-vitro fertilization, Kate was finally feeling those pregnancy symptoms, and when the test came positive, the couple was excited! Weeks passed and Kate felt a little strange as if she was going into labor. However, it was too soon!
Kate and David were a happy couple that wanted to have a family of their own.
After in-vitro fertilization, Kate was finally feeling those pregnancy symptoms, and when the test came positive, the couple was excited! Weeks passed and Kate felt a little strange as if she was going into labor. However, it was too soon!
Kate knew that fertility treatment came with a lot of risks, but a lot more stress was added when she realized she was getting into labor at only 26 weeks into pregnancy. Premature babies are in a lot of danger, but giving birth to twins at 26 weeks is far more dangerous. Unfortunately, Kate would find this out in the delivery room...
Kate knew that fertility treatment came with a lot of risks, but a lot more stress was added when she realized she was getting into labor at only 26 weeks into pregnancy.
Premature babies are in a lot of danger, but giving birth to twins at 26 weeks is far more dangerous. Unfortunately, Kate would find this out in the delivery room...
Ogg rushed to the hospital, ready to give birth to her son Jamie and her daughter Emily. The boy was born first, and two minutes later, Emily followed. But something was wrong with one of the babies, thought the exhausted mother. She only heard one cry, and then the doctors acted strangely...
“They were both born in their sac but Jamie didn't make a noise when they tore it open. Emily let out a big wail,” said the mother. Something was wrong, she saw as everyone in the delivery room was around Jamie.
“They were both born in their sac but Jamie didn't make a noise when they tore it open. Emily let out a big wail,” said the mother. Something was wrong, she saw as everyone in the delivery room was around Jamie.
While giving birth, Kate thought about how her life would be with the babies she has always wanted to have. Now that she only heard a cry from one of the babies, she was waiting for the second one. But the only noise around her was made by the doctors rushing to one of the babies...
While giving birth, Kate thought about how her life would be with the babies she has always wanted to have.
Now that she only heard a cry from one of the babies, she was waiting for the second one. But the only noise around her was made by the doctors rushing to one of the babies...
Kate hoped for the best and was waiting to hold her babies. After carrying them for only 26 weeks, she wanted to give them all the love in the world. But then, the doctor approached her bed and asked her if she thought of a name for her babies. He didn't look like he had good news for her, and Kate's heart sank...
Kate hoped for the best and was waiting to hold her babies.
After carrying them for only 26 weeks, she wanted to give them all the love in the world. But then, the doctor approached her bed and asked her if she thought of a name for her babies. He didn't look like he had good news for her, and Kate's heart sank...
Being this young and only 2 lb, after 20 minutes of trying to save Jamie’s life, doctors had to tell the mother that her baby boy wasn’t strong enough. The doctor came close, asking her if she chose a name for him: “he turned around with my son already wrapped up and said, "We've lost Jamie, he didn't make it, sorry",” recalled Kate. But she wanted to at least say goodbye...
Being this young and only 2 lb, after 20 minutes of trying to save Jamie’s life, doctors had to tell the mother that her baby boy wasn’t strong enough. The doctor came close, asking her if she chose a name for him: “he turned around with my son already wrapped up and said, "We've lost Jamie, he didn't make it, sorry",” recalled Kate. But she wanted to at least say goodbye...
“I took my gown off and arranged him on my chest with his head over my arm and just held him. He wasn't moving at all and we just started talking to him,” said the mother in an interview. She cuddled, stroke him and talked to him, then told David to get closer… “I took my gown off and arranged him on my chest with his head over my arm and just held him.
He wasn't moving at all and we just started talking to him,” said the mother in an interview. She cuddled, stroke him and talked to him, then told David to get closer…
“We told him what his name was and that he had a sister. We told him the things we wanted to do with him throughout his life. Jamie occasionally gasped for air, which doctors said was a reflex action,” said Kate. But she hoped there would be more than a reflex, and carried on talking, and cuddling her baby, still hopeful. Then, he opened his eyes!
“We told him what his name was and that he had a sister. We told him the things we wanted to do with him throughout his life. Jamie occasionally gasped for air, which doctors said was a reflex action,” said Kate. But she hoped there would be more than a reflex, and carried on talking, and cuddling her baby, still hopeful. Then, he opened his eyes!
The mother asked David to lay next to her and keep a hand over his son. The two then couldn’t believe it when Jamie suddenly gasped for air and opened his eyes! “He was breathing and grabbing Dave's finger. I gave Jamie some breast milk on my finger, he took it and started regular breathing.” It was indeed a miracle, judging by the doctor’s reaction… The mother asked David to lay next to her and keep a hand over his son.
The two then couldn’t believe it when Jamie suddenly gasped for air and opened his eyes! “He was breathing and grabbing Dave's finger. I gave Jamie some breast milk on my finger, he took it and started regular breathing.” It was indeed a miracle, judging by the doctor’s reaction…
“The doctor kept shaking his head saying, "I don't believe it, I don't believe it". We had to persuade him to come back into the room to look at him because he was convinced the baby was dead,” said Kate. Later that year, in an interview with Today, Kate added that they first held Jamie to make the most of their last moments. What happened next?
“The doctor kept shaking his head saying, "I don't believe it, I don't believe it". We had to persuade him to come back into the room to look at him because he was convinced the baby was dead,” said Kate. Later that year, in an interview with Today, Kate added that they first held Jamie to make the most of their last moments. What happened next?
They didn’t think that skin-to-skin care would help, but it was all thanks to Kate’s instinct that her baby was now alive once again! Her husband said: 'Luckily I've got a very strong, very smart wife. She instinctively did what she did. If she hadn't done that, Jamie probably wouldn't be here.” They didn’t think that skin-to-skin care would help, but it was all thanks to Kate’s instinct that her baby was now alive once again!
Her husband said: 'Luckily I've got a very strong, very smart wife. She instinctively did what she did. If she hadn't done that, Jamie probably wouldn't be here.”
Thanks to the doctors' effort of helping Jamie survive, and what's more important, thanks to Kate's faith in her instinct, Jamie was stabilized and was fighting to survive. He didn't pass away that day, but would he be able to make it through these rough first weeks? Kate's story carried on...
Thanks to the doctors' effort of helping Jamie survive, and what's more important, thanks to Kate's faith in her instinct, Jamie was stabilized and was fighting to survive.
He didn't pass away that day, but would he be able to make it through these rough first weeks? Kate's story carried on...
After Jamie got stabilized, the twins would lay on their parents, skin on skin, to help them feel the heartbeat and breathe. “We’re the luckiest people in the world,” said Kate two years later in a Skype interview with the media. How did Jamie grow after his bumpy start?
After Jamie got stabilized, the twins would lay on their parents, skin on skin, to help them feel the heartbeat and breathe. “We’re the luckiest people in the world,” said Kate two years later in a Skype interview with the media. How did Jamie grow after his bumpy start?
Kate couldn’t believe that she was able to save her son’s life with a simple touch and a few loving words. It shows that the bond between a mom and her child is very strong and essential in the first moments of life, and that’s why skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care is lifesaving. This experience turned Kate’s and David’s lives around… Kate couldn’t believe that she was able to save her son’s life with a simple touch and a few loving words.
It shows that the bond between a mom and her child is very strong and essential in the first moments of life, and that’s why skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care is lifesaving. This experience turned Kate’s and David’s lives around…
As soon as Jamie and Emily grew up and were nearly celebrating their second birthday, the Oggs moved to a home close to the ocean in Nelson, New Zealand. The happy parents went to the doctor for a regular checkup on the twins. The good news?
As soon as Jamie and Emily grew up and were nearly celebrating their second birthday, the Oggs moved to a home close to the ocean in Nelson, New Zealand. The happy parents went to the doctor for a regular checkup on the twins. The good news?
Everyone was concerned that because of his bumpy start, Jamie would have some health issues, but Kate said that the checkups showed that the twins were healthy and developing normally: “He is absolutely fine... the biggest concern they had was cerebral palsy because of the lack of oxygen but there's been nothing.” Then, Kate had one more surprise to share with the world!
Everyone was concerned that because of his bumpy start, Jamie would have some health issues, but Kate said that the checkups showed that the twins were healthy and developing normally: “He is absolutely fine... the biggest concern they had was cerebral palsy because of the lack of oxygen but there's been nothing.” Then, Kate had one more surprise to share with the world!
One big news Kate had was when she found out that she was again pregnant! Although she didn’t took fertility treatments, she was now pregnant with a third child! And this time when she went to the delivery room, she told the doctor her plan right after giving birth… One big news Kate had was when she found out that she was again pregnant!
Although she didn’t took fertility treatments, she was now pregnant with a third child! And this time when she went to the delivery room, she told the doctor her plan right after giving birth…
“Just give him to me when he’s born,” she told the doctor. In the interview, she explained that she was confident in telling doctors what she wanted to do with her baby. As a result, she ended up holding Charlie for three and a half hours after giving birth. Charlie was born at term, and he was quite fat, thus Kate nicknamed him “my little sumo.” “Just give him to me when he’s born,” she told the doctor.
In the interview, she explained that she was confident in telling doctors what she wanted to do with her baby. As a result, she ended up holding Charlie for three and a half hours after giving birth. Charlie was born at term, and he was quite fat, thus Kate nicknamed him “my little sumo.”
Jamie is now a 9-year old healthy boy! His family has started an online community called Jamie's Gift and they raise funds for an organization called Miracle Babies Foundation that helps premature and sick newborns. A few years ago, Kate and David told the twins what happened the time they were born… Jamie is now a 9-year old healthy boy!
His family has started an online community called Jamie's Gift and they raise funds for an organization called Miracle Babies Foundation that helps premature and sick newborns. A few years ago, Kate and David told the twins what happened the time they were born…
When Kate and David told the twins what happened on the day they were born, they weren’t expecting Emily to be the most affected. “Emily burst into tears, she was really upset and she kept hugging Jamie,” Kate said. Jamie seemed to take it in stride. But there was another person who loved the story so much, he tells it to anyone who listens.
When Kate and David told the twins what happened on the day they were born, they weren’t expecting Emily to be the most affected. “Emily burst into tears, she was really upset and she kept hugging Jamie,” Kate said. Jamie seemed to take it in stride. But there was another person who loved the story so much, he tells it to anyone who listens.
Charlie tells everyone about Jamie's incredible birth: 'They have a little brother Charlie who loves telling anyone who listens. He'll say: "When I was born I was fat and the twins were skinny. Jamie was also dead but now he is alive".' Charlie tells everyone about Jamie's incredible birth: 'They have a little brother Charlie who loves telling anyone who listens.
He'll say: "When I was born I was fat and the twins were skinny. Jamie was also dead but now he is alive".'
Fully aware of the miracle that was Jamie’s survival, the Oggs decided to pay it forward. Not only they set up Jamie’s Gift, but also some of their fundraising efforts include sports events, like the one David was recently training for: an Ironman triathlon in Port Macquarie!
Fully aware of the miracle that was Jamie’s survival, the Oggs decided to pay it forward. Not only they set up Jamie’s Gift, but also some of their fundraising efforts include sports events, like the one David was recently training for: an Ironman triathlon in Port Macquarie!
This powerful story shows that one mother's instinct and the father's support helped bring their baby back to life after even doctors lost their hope. It's incredible to see little Jamie growing up so big. Looking at the happy family, we can only hope that more moms know how essential skin-to-skin contact is in the first moments after birth, and how much good it can do.
This powerful story shows that one mother's instinct and the father's support helped bring their baby back to life after even doctors lost their hope.
It's incredible to see little Jamie growing up so big. Looking at the happy family, we can only hope that more moms know how essential skin-to-skin contact is in the first moments after birth, and how much good it can do.