Becoming a mother is a profound and unforgettable experience that has the power to transform a family’s life for the better. Kimberly Fugate, a mother of a 10-year-old daughter, unexpectedly found herself pregnant with triplets at the age of 42.Her husband, Craig, and she hadn’t planned for a second pregnancy due to the risks associated with conceiving later in life. However, fate had a surprise in store for them as Kimberly became pregnant. The most astonishing revelation, which surprised even the doctors and nurses, was the number of children Kimberly was carrying—three.
On February 8, after delivering three babies, Kimberly was in for another shock when the doctor announced, “I have more feet.” The last baby, who had been overlooked in the ultrasound, made her the mother of rare identical quadruplets at the age of 42. Kimberly shares the health challenges her four tiny girls faced and how she manages to tell the quads apart. She also expresses the tremendous help she receives from their 11-year-old sister.
Kimberly considers herself extremely fortunate, believing that she has the most beautiful babies with the prettiest smiles. The past year has been a whirlwind. She discovered she was pregnant at 13 weeks and gave birth at 28 weeks and one day. Her four daughters were born more than two months early, weighing between 2 and 2½ pounds and facing critical health issues. They spent over three months in the NICU and needed ventilators to help them breathe due to their underdeveloped lungs.
The initial months were like a roller coaster, with one baby having a good day while another struggled. Kimberly feared for their lives as several of their heart rates dropped, and two had to be resuscitated. Despite the difficulties, she felt supported by the Ronald McDonald House, where she stayed, and by the NICU nurses who became like family.
In May and June, the quadruplets finally came home and have been doing well. They have shown remarkable growth, with one of them being monitored for a mild growth disorder. Kimberly believes that having these quadruplets was a divine blessing, and watching them thrive fills her with gratitude and a deep sense of being blessed.
