New parents who both recovered from coronavirus are finally getting to hold their newborn twins three weeks after the babies were born and taken away because of the virus. Jennifer and Andre Laubach, both 36, were able to hold their twins Mitchell and Maksim for the first time on April 23 at Beaumont Hospital in Troy, Michigan.
The happy reunion comes after weeks of anxiety and uncertainty. Although the expecting parents had taken precautions, they both ended up testing positive for coronavirus.
Jennifer had been practicing social distancing in her home for a week.
“It was very emotional,” Jennifer told People. “They seemed so tiny and fragile. I cried when I thanked the nurses for taking care of them while we were unable to.”
Jennifer had been practicing social distancing for an entire week and was working from home when she started experiencing coronavirus symptoms, especially shortness of breath on March 19. Andre didn’t start experiencing any symptoms until March 24, his were more severe.
Jennifer’s water broke around the exact same time her husband’s health began to take a turn.
On April 2, Jennifer’s water broke while she was 32 weeks pregnant. As they prepared to head to the hospital, Andre, who has asthma, began coughing and gasping for breath, leading Jennifer to drive herself to the hospital and leave Andre at home with her brother, Good Morning America reported.
“I looked back at Andre not knowing if I would ever see him again,” Jennifer admitted.
The couple was tested for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and received the test results just a few minutes after Jennifer’s water broke.
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Jennifer gave birth the following day, but would not be allowed to hold her babies.
Jennifer gave birth to the twins a day later and was “really fearful” that she would pass the virus on to her newborns. The twins were taken away to the NICU.
Over the next 20 days, Jennifer would only be allowed to see her twins through video chat. Which must have been extremely difficult.
“I couldn’t have done it without my nurses at Beaumont, Troy,” she said. “Isolation was incredibly lonely and depressing. My nurse held my hand and wasn’t afraid to touch me. She cheered me and encouraged me.”
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After three long weeks, Jennifer and Andre were able to be with their baby boys.
On April 23, both Jennifer and Andre tested negative for COVID-19 the virus caused by the novel coronavirus. The couple got to hold their boys soon after. Two days later, their son Mitchell was cleared to go home. Maskim will be joining his brother at home later in the week, a spokesperson from the hospital said.
“I just want people to take this virus seriously and not take your loved ones for granted, that’s for sure,” Jennifer told GMA. “My heart goes out to all the people who don’t have a happy ending.”
We’re so glad the Laubach family is on the mend and that they do have a happy ending after their scary situation. This disease has created so many new complications for parents who are expecting newborns.