Robert Emery, 39, From Constantia Kloof in Roodepoort, Shares How His Wheelchair-bound Wife, Chantel, 36, Gave Birth to Quadruplets With the Help of Rob’s Eldest Son, Joshua, 14
Chantel was in a car accident in 2008, which left her paralysed from the waist down. Initially, doctors said she wouldn’t be able to have children, so we were surprised when she fell pregnant with Scarlett, now four years old, and were thrilled to grow our family and give Joshua, 14, Justine, 13, and Danika, 12, a baby sister. My two oldest daughters live with their mom.
We found out in January 2015 that we were expecting another miracle baby, and after a few visits to our gynaecologist, the scans revealed that we’d actually be having three! They were due on 27 September, but around 27 June, Chantel just wasn’t feeling quite herself. She’d wet the bed that night and decided to wear a nappy to avoid any other accidents. When she went to the bathroom at 9.45am on 28 June and took off the nappy, she was shocked to see a baby in it. She obviously hadn’t felt the contractions and the baby had just slipped out. Joshua and Scarlett were home so she called Joshua in a panic to help her. When he walked into the bathroom and saw what was happening, he called me home from an expo I was hosting and gathered towels to help deliver the babies and keep them warm.
When I arrived home, Scarlett was standing in the bedroom wide-eyed while Joshua sat in the bathroom with Chantel who held our three little boys in her arms. One of the babies had fallen and his umbilical cord had snapped, so I wrapped him up and handed him to Josh who kept him warm and made sure he was breathing. When my father-in-law arrived, he and Josh took the baby straight to the emergency room while we waited about 45 minutes for the ambulance to arrive so we could cut the umbilical cords and send the babies off to hospital. We waited for another ambulance to collect Chantel and take her to hospital shortly afterwards.
Denne historien er fra June 2017-utgaven av Your Family.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 2017-utgaven av Your Family.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Beat The Disease To Please
Is saying ‘yes’ is a habit that’s leaving your own needs constantly overlooked, as you put everyone else’s needs before yours? How can you break the cycle of people- pleasing and put yourself first?
Quaran-Teens Help Them Manage Their Mental Health
Teens climbing the walls during covid-19? Restlessness isn’t the only thing to be concerned about, writes daniella renzon, community service clinical psychologist
Know Your Headache Migraine, Tension Or Cluster?
It’s common for people to refer to any splitting headache as a migraine, but this might not always be the case
Going Through A Friendship Crisis?
Is your waning social life affecting your marriage?
Life Post-Lockdown
Pandemic panic, brain fog and ocd… as you get back to life un-usual, psychologist marise swart shares some advice on some common issues that may affect your mental health
How To... Make Gluten-Free Flours
Prepare these gluten-free flours to replace cake flour or self-raising flour in your favourite recipes!
Cosmetic Treatments: Everything You Need To Know
Considering a cosmetic procedure, but aren’t sure what to expect? Cape town based general and aesthetic practitioner dr jan nel offers his valuable insights
LOVING LOCAL
LOCAL FASHION BRANDS ARE HELPING US BECOME MORE CONSCIOUS SHOPPERS IN THIS EVER-CHANGING WORLD, WITH THEIR BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED ECO-FRIENDLY WARDROBE PIECES
Listen Up
EVER NOTICE HOW YOUR CHILD’S BIONIC EARS PICK UP EVERY WORD OF YOUR PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS, YET COMPLETELY TUNE OUT WHEN YOU REALLY NEED THEM TO LISTEN? OUR EXPERTS OFFER SOME CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE ON HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF HEARD
Blood couldn't make us any closer'
THE TITLE OF ‘DAD’ DOESN’T ONLY BELONG TO SOMEONE YOU SHARE DNA WITH. THESE MEN HAVE FILLED THE FATHER FIGURE ROLE AND RAISED THEIR CHILDREN AS THEIR OWN