Two-and-a-half-year-old twins Emily (left) and Matilda (right) with mother Kaylene Shepherd.
Camera IconTwo-and-a-half-year-old twins Emily (left) and Matilda (right) with mother Kaylene Shepherd. Credit: Supplied/Matt Jelonek

Walk for Prems: parents of premature twins to participate as thanks for help

Francis CurroComment News

HUNTGINDALE’S Kaylene and James Shepherd want to help the people who helped make the birth of their premature twins an easier experience.

The family will take part in the Walk for Prems on October 23, which raises money for Life’s Little Treasures Foundation.

The foundation provides free support, education and understanding to families of premature babies.

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The Shepherd’s twin girls – Emily and Matilda – were born at just 28 weeks and Ms Shepherd said it was a shock when they came early.

“I didn’t really have time to think about it and I had no issues with pregnancy,” she said.

“All of sudden I was in spontaneous labour.”

She said her two girls were now healthy and no longer had to go for checkups, which they had to do for the first two years as each weighed little more than 1kg at birth.

Ms Shepherd said raising money during the walk would help families get support from the foundation.

“Life is very precious and you have to take every opportunity that you can get,” she said.

“Sometimes, life doesn’t start the way it should start so these little babies had quite big hurdles to jump before they could get into a normal life.”

The 5km walk will be around Sir James Mitchell Park.

Registrations close October 13. To register go to www.walkforprems.org.au/locations

Each year more than 48,000 babies are admitted into neonatal intensive and special care units in Australia.