Even today one of humanities greatest mysteries are twins; their indelible bond is a union formed in the womb and not fully understood so for all of us they are a source of so much wonderment. That is what makes this picture so special.
When parents Ian and Brittani McIntire found out they were having twins the news was unexpected.
“We went in for our six week sonogram and they just said there’s one heartbeat and here’s another,” Brittani told Wichita-based television station KWCH.
But the Kansas parents’ excitement was short lived as they were almost immediately told one of their babies had a hole in his heart and a brain that was developing abnormally – his prognosis did not look good.
“He’s only weighing 255 grams and his sister is over 900 grams,” Brittani said. “His only chance of survival would be heart surgery but they wouldn’t do heart surgery because of his brain.”
Struggling with the weight of all the bad news the McIntire’s were given a bittersweet reprieve from their angst on Tuesday when doctors captured this sonogram.
“We didn’t really see much, she said there’s his hand and there’s her hand and it looks like they’re holding hands,” Brittani said.
The image depicts the boy, who is known to his family as Mason, wrapping his small little hand around the finger of his growing sister, Madilyn.
“Most twins when she’s trying to take pictures and stuff they’re kicking each other and hitting each other and she said with our twins it seems like she was very protective over him,” Brittani said.
It’s feared Mason will likely never get to meet his family so this precious moment captured is something these heartbroken parents are choosing to treasure.
“We know we have a piece of them together that will last forever … and it’s special to have,” the father said.
“It’s just nice with everything going on … I know I’m holding him, I’m carrying him but I just want to be there for him,” Brittani said.
“She’s the only one who can actually be there and is holding onto him … so it’s comforting to know that if he does pass, he won’t be alone.”
VIDEO YOU MIGHT LIKE: Hewitt family’s life after tennis.
