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JESUP – The survival of Iowa’s tiniest twins was nothing short of miraculous. In fact, it earned them a Guinness World Record.
In November, the girls hit another milestone.
Keeley and Kambry Ewoldt, the world’s most premature surviving twins, celebrated their third birthdays with a small gathering at their Jesup home.
It has been no easy journey. The mountain was high. But the girls kept climbing. And climbing. And climbing.
“God had a plan from Day One, and he saw far beyond anything I could see,” said their mother, Jade Ewoldt. “As I look back at their journey, I now can see what God was doing. It’s hard to find words for what I feel.”
Keeley James and Kambry Lee were born 18 weeks early on Nov. 24, 2018, delivered at just 22 weeks and one day gestation. A full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks.
“They would be clearly among the top four or five earliest babies ever delivered here. We had one at 22 (weeks) and zero (days) and another at 22 and one, but neither were twins,” Dr. Jonathan Klein, a neonatologist and medical director of the NICU at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, said in a previous Courier story.
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At birth, Keeley weighed 1 pound and Kambry weighed 13.4 ounces. Each baby was about the length of a dollar bill. Kambry’s weight briefly dipped to less than a can of soda. The girls’ skin was so fragile it could tear with the slightest touch. Their eyelids weren’t yet formed. Respirators kept them breathing.
The Ewoldt twins at birth. They were born 18 weeks early in November.
The Ewoldt twins’ extraordinary survival story, first reported by The Courier, made headlines around the world.
“For 22-week babies to survive, it’s incredibly rare,” Klein explained. “Nationally, survival is around 10%.”
Keeley and Kambry spent nearly five months in the neonatal intensive care unit at UIHC Stead Children’s hospital before finally going home. They’ve continued to beat the odds.
Both girls are active — and silly — 3-year-olds, their mom said.
“Kambry is a ham. You cannot really anticipate the next move she’s going to make. She’s so funny. She loves to pretend that she’s Keeley. Last night she took her sister’s glasses and put them on,” Ewoldt said, laughing.
Keeley is a “girly girl” who loves playing with baby dolls and Barbies.
Because of “neuroprotective care strategies” in the NICU, like limiting sound and light to reduce stress, just 10% of preemies born at UIHC have long-term disabilities, Klein said.
World record setting twins Kambry, left, and Keeley Ewoldt turned 3 years old in November.
Despite compromised immune systems early on, Keeley and Kambry are healthy. They finally were able to come off of supplemental oxygen just before they turned 2. Today, Keeley wears glasses for vision problems, and Kambry was recently diagnosed with autism. Other than that, “they are perfectly normal kids,” Ewoldt said. “The girls have just been exceeding expectations. They’ve come such a long way.”
Ewoldt is grateful for the team at UIHC who saved her babies, and hopes to help other parents going through similar circumstances.
Keeley Ewoldt is shown Jan. 10 in the NICU at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
On Jan. 22, she’s hosting a formal gala at Jesup Golf & Country Club to raise funds for those parents. Parents of babies with lengthy NICU stays miss long periods of work, forgoing paychecks to stay with their children.
“Having a parent bedside as much as possible does improve neurodevelopmental outcomes. Raising money will help them do that so they don’t worry about not being at work. The world still turns wherever you are, even a long stay in the NICU,” she said.
Identical twins Keeley and Kambry Ewoldt wear clothes for the first time. “They were so fragile,” said their mom, Jade Ewoldt. “Right after birth smallest thing could have torn their skin. Their skin needed time to mature and maintain a certain body temperature to wear clothes.”
The gala includes dinner, a presentation by Ewoldt, a live auction and a raffle. Live music will be provided by Dalles Jacobus, an Iowa Hawkeyes football player who wrote and performed “The Wave,” a song that pays tribute to the Kinnick Stadium game day wave to kids watching from the top floor of the children’s hospital where the twins were born.
Tickets to the gala are $50 and can be purchased at https://bit.ly/3Ewg3Nm. Tickets will also be available at the door for $60.
Photos, video: The Ewoldt twins’ first days
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Keeley, birth to Feb. 14
At left is Keeley Ewoldt at birth. On the right is her as of Feb. 14.
Keeley and Kambry first outfit
Identical twins Keeley and Kambry Ewoldt wear clothes for the first time. “They were so fragile,” said their mom, Jade Ewoldt. “Right after birth smallest thing could have torn their skin. Their skin needed time to mature and maintain a certain body temperature to wear clothes.”
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A slumbering Keeley wears a pretty bow while snuggling with her mom.
Kambry’s first outfit
Kambry Ewoldt wearing clothes for the first time.
Wes Ewoldt, Kambry
Wesley Ewoldt snuggles daughter Kambry on Feb. 11.
Kambry, birth to now
This side-by-side image of shows Kambry Ewoldt the day she was born (left), and on Feb. 8.
Ewold twins first night home together
The Ewoldt twins on their first night home together. At left is Keeley, and Kambry is on the right.
Jade Ewoldt and children
Jade Ewoldt snuggles with her four children at home April 20. Big sister Kollins is on the left, and big brother Koy is on the right.
Kambry early April
Kambry Ewoldt at home in early April. She came home six days before twin sister Keeley.
Kambry’s first day home
Kambry Ewoldt on her first day home April 11.
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Kambry Ewoldt on her first day home after months in the NICU at UI Stead Children’s Hospital.
Kambry graduation day
Parents Wes and Jade Ewoldt waited for this day for months. Daughter Kambry graduated from from the NICU on April 11. Her twin, Keeley, came home April 17.
Kambry home early April
Kambry Ewoldt at home in April.
Ewoldt twins Easter
Donning Easter outfits are Kambry, left, and Keeley Ewoldt. Born 18 weeks early in November, both are finally home after five months in neonatal intensive care unit at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
Twins first days home
Keeley and Kambry Ewoldt in their first days at home together.
Foot size comparison
This photo shows the difference in foot size from the day the twins were born until now.
Eyes matured
The Ewoldt twins passed their eye exams with flying colors, an important milestone. Arriving 18 weeks early, their eyes were still fused closed at birth.
Twins at home April 26
The twins at home together on April 26.
Meal time
The Ewoldt twins are fed while lying on their sides, which helps avoid aspirating their milk and formula. Feedings take between 30-40 minutes, mom Jade said.
Twins at 5 months
The Ewoldt twins at 5 months.
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The Ewoldt twins snuggle with mom, Jade, on May 7.
Twins at birth
The Ewoldt twins at birth. They were born 18 weeks early in November.
Ewoldt siblings
At their Dysart home, big sister Kollins holds Keeley, while big brother Koy snuggles with Kambry.
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Kambry, left, and Keeley Ewoldt marked their first birthday Nov. 24, 2019. The Dysart twins were born at just 22 weeks gestation.
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Keeley, left, and Kambry Ewoldt of Dysart hold the Guinness World record for most premature surviving twins.
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Keeley, left, and Kambry Ewoldt of Dysart turn a year old on Nov. 24, 2019. The twins were born 18 weeks premature.
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The Ewoldt family includes parents Jade and Wesley Ewoldt, and, from left, Kollins, Kambry, Keeley and Koy.
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Mom Jade Ewoldt with twins Kambry, left, and Keeley.
Kambry Ewoldt gets a treat
Kambry Ewoldt smiles
Keeley Ewoldt plays
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Ewoldt twins in the NICU
VIDEO: Ewoldt twins in the NICU
Keeley Ewoldt crawl attempt