A heartbroken mother who lost her premature newborn twins was overjoyed to find out she was pregnant again three months later – with another set of twins.
Angel Hind, 33, from Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, gave birth to her first set of twins, Blake and Annabelle Smailes, in September 2015, but the tiny babies were too poorly to survive.
But just three months later, Angel and partner Nick Smailes were amazed to find out she was expecting another set of boy-girl twins.
Angel Hind was heartbroken after her premature twins Blake and Annabelle Smailes passed away, but a year later she welcomed another set of boy-girl twins Ava and Mason (pictured with their mother)
This time around twins Ava Annabelle Smailes and Mason Blake Smailes were delivered in August 2016, with their middle names given in tribute to the siblings they will never meet.
Ava and Mason are now healthy one-year-olds and their doting mum is determined that they will grow up knowing about their lost siblings.
Angel said: ‘Their middle names are the best way for Blake and Annabelle to live on. We’re going to make sure they’re remembered.
To commemorate Anabelle and Blake, Angel has used their names as the twins middle names and took them to visit their siblings’ grave as soon as they left the hospital
‘They will definitely grow up knowing about my first two. All of my love for Blake and Annabelle is living on through Ava and Mason.
‘The first place we took Ava and Mason when we left the hospital with them was to see the graves. That was the first time we were all together.’
Angel explained that she wanted to share her story to give hope to others in her situation.
‘When my first two passed away all the hope I had left went with them. I didn’t want to be here anymore,’ she said.
Angel discovered she was pregnant with her twins just three months after losing her Annabelle and Blake
Angel compared the experience to ‘groundhog day’ after learning she was expecting boy-girl twins once more
‘I was searching for stories of other people who had been through something similar to try and find some hope.
‘I really hope my story will help others like me. Because you do need that hope, otherwise it’s hard to carry on.
‘You have a feeling that you’re getting punished but there are others like you and it does get easier. You never get forget but it does get easier.’
Angel’s ordeal began on September 21, 2105 when she went into Labour just 22 weeks and six days pregnant.
The music teacher says was rushed to hospital and told by doctors they couldn’t help unless the babies reached the 23 week mark.
Angel and her partner Nick Smailes are now hoping to raise money James Cook University Hospital’s Neonatal Unit
Angel explained: ‘Luckily I managed to hold on and they were born on the right day. When they came out they were both crying and breathing.
‘The doctors tried to help both of my babies and they took them away from us for treatment.
‘But within an hour they told me that Blake has passed away.
‘Annabelle was doing really well and the doctors were very pleased with her for a time, but then she got a hole in her bowel.’
‘They rushed her to Newcastle RVI for an emergency operation and told us she wasn’t going to last the night.
‘They gave us the option to leave her, but we had to give her a chance.
‘Every time I put my finger in she used to grab it – I thought that was a sign she was strong enough to pull through.
‘But she died when she was four days old. She just could’t keep fighting. We turned her life support off and just held her as she went.’
But in an incredible twist of fate, Angel and partner Nick, 31, found out that she was pregnant with boy-girl twins just three months after losing her first two children.
Angel said: ‘It felt like groundhog day – as if we would be going through the same thing over and over again.
‘It was really scary that second time. The first time around was fun and exciting, but the second time everyone fell silent when they told us.
‘But we got through to 23 weeks without any issues. It was a huge weight on me because I thought we wouldn’t make it again.
‘At 35 weeks Ava and Mason came into the world and are as healthy as can be.. They’re doing great.’
Now the two grateful music teachers are hosting a charity night at Teeside School of Music, where they both work, to raise money for James Cook University Hospital’s Neonatal Unit.
Angel said: ‘I’ve wanted to do something to raise money for them for a while. They treated both of our babies equally even though they died.
‘I couldn’t have asked for anymore help. They were just brilliant and it’s time to give something back.’
Angel has set up a Just Giving page which is crowdfunding to raise £1000 for the neonatal unit.
To donate, click here.