Parents of 24-week premature twins face separation in two Boston NICUs
Mike and Kelsey Kennedy's newborn daughters, Kendall and Juliette, were born at 24 weeks and placed in separate intensive care units at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital.
In early September, Mike and Kelsey Kennedy of Canton, Massachusetts, gave birth to premature twins, Kendall and Juliette, at just 24 weeks gestation. The newborns were immediately transferred to separate neonatal intensive care units—Kendall to Brigham and Women's Hospital and Juliette to Boston Children's Hospital—where they are on respirators and receiving tube feeding. The parents spend most of their time moving between the two facilities, describing the experience as the worst feeling for a parent.
Hospital staff have expressed support and have attempted to move the twins to the same unit, citing research that twins fare better together, but logistical and medical factors have prevented a transfer. Adding to their anxiety, a nurse strike has been announced at Brigham and Women's Hospital, raising concerns about staffing and care continuity for Juliette.
Why it matters
The story highlights the challenges families face when premature infants require specialized care in separate hospitals.
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