A Mother’s Newborn Gives Dying Twin Sister a Final Hug: Heartwarming Photo Goes Viral Shortly before her passing, it was discovered that Esme had an excessive amount of fluid in her head, which would result in a poor quality of life. Amy begged for her newborns to be placed on her chest one last time before the transition of baby Charlotte. The photo capturing the twins’ embrace was taken on August 27, but sadly, Esme passed away before dawn on August 30.
Amy faced a difficult decision when she learned that her newborn twin, Esme, had an abnormal amount of fluid in her head and would not have a good quality of life. Despite medical professionals’ best efforts, the twins were born dangerously early at 26 weeks and 5 days, with Esme initially weighing more than her sister Charlotte. Amy and her husband Conor were ecstatic when they learned they were expecting twins, but Amy was brought to the hospital at 24 weeks after going into labor too soon. Esme passed away before dawn on August 30, and Amy struggled with the decision of when to stop providing for her child. She just knew that she wanted the twins to meet before she passed away.
After weeks of fighting for her life at Leeds General Hospital, it was discovered through testing that Esme’s brain ventricles were filled with an abnormal amount of fluid, leaving her without a quality of life. Conor and Amy were faced with the difficult decision to remove their daughter’s life support.
The new parents from Leeds, Yorkshire, requested the assistance of the staff to help them hold their daughters at the same time as they were determined to have them “meet” before Esme’s passing. “Conor and I have never been able to hold both at once, so the nurses made arrangements to assist us,” Conor shared. He further added that over the long term, they truly excelled in taking care of their twins. The nurses placed them on Amy’s chest, and when Charlotte embraced Esme, Amy commented, “They love each other.”
It’s heartwarming to think that Charlotte is embracing her little sister, even if it’s just for comfort. Her kind nature is likely the reason behind the gesture. I can confidently say that the happiest moment of my life was holding both of my daughters in my arms. Even in the face of devastating news, that moment felt like everything was just right.
At Leeds General Hospital, Amy and Conor planned the christening ceremony for their daughters, Charlotte and Esme. However, the next day, they had to make the difficult decision to switch off Esme’s life support. She passed away 12 hours later in the arms of her mother. Amy said, “Esme seemed to have chosen her own time to leave, on her own terms. I tried to hold back my tears and surround her with love and happiness. I want her to remember that her mother is a strong woman, and not to be afraid of the future.”
Chɑrlotte was able to go home with her parents on the twins’ due date, October 10th, and she has been thriving ever since. In honor of Esme, Amy and Conor established a nonprofit organization called Campbellinas, which is the twins’ nickname. The couple has raised over £10,000 to date as a way of expressing their gratitude for all the help they received from Leeds hospital. Amy also started a blog called “This Is My Brave Face” to support other families coping with the loss of a child. Both of these initiatives show the couple’s dedication to helping others and honoring their daughter’s memory.