The mum of the UK’s most premature twins says they are going “strength to strength” a year after coming home from hospital. <br /><br />Harley and Harry Crane were given zero per cent chance of survival when they were born at 22 weeks and five days – more than a week before the usual abortion limit.<br /><br />But the tough siblings beat the odds and came home after 140 days in the NICU.<br /><br />Now 17-months-old, the IVF pair are happy and healthy at home.<br /><br />A year after leaving hospital mum Jade Crane, 41, finally no longer feels “scared” and knows her miracle babies are “staying here”.<br /><br />Harley, who was born a tiny 500g, is now a “crazy” 24lbs, and is standing up.<br /><br />Her brother Harry was born weighing 520g and has now reached 20lbs and is a little behind developmentally but is “trying to crawl around”.<br /><br />Parents Jade and Steve, 53, who works in sales, couldn’t be prouder of their twins and are "looking forward" to their future.<br /><br />Jade, a former mental health nurse and addiction counsellor, from Derby said: “We are so blessed and lucky to have them doing so well.<br /><br />Jade and Steve had 11 years of treatment before two implanted embryos on their eighth cycle of IVF resulted in twins. <br /><br />After leaking fluid, Jade went to Queens Medical Hospital, Nottingham, to get checked in October 2021.<br /><br />An internal examination revealed she was experiencing a premature rupture of membranes - where the fetal membranes rupture before the onset of labour.<br /><br />At 22 weeks pregnant, the mum feared the twins wouldn't survive.<br /><br />She said: "They told me they were going to admit me but that I was probably having a miscarriage. <br /><br />"The doctor kept saying it was a miscarriage but I said it couldn't be because I could feel the babies moving.<br /><br />"I knew they were ok but was being told they wouldn't survive at this gestation."<br /><br />The abortion law in the UK states that women can terminate a pregnancy up to 24 weeks in most cases - and doctors are not required to medically intervene before.<br /><br />Luckily for Jade, the facility is a teaching hospital and doctors intervene with babies born 23 weeks and later, she said.<br /><br />At the time of going into labour, on October 26, 2021, Jade was still 30 hours away from the 23 week mark - but doctors chose to intervene, she said.<br /><br />Little Harley and Harry were intubated and taken to the NICU where they remained on ventilators.<br /><br />The twins battled chronic lung disease, a serious gastrointestinal problem called necrotizing enterocolitis and underwent many surgeries.<br /><br />Harley had to have a stoma bag fitted, which has since been removed, and Harry received injections in his eyes to help prevent premature blindness.<br /><br />Harry came home in March 6 2022 and Harley joined him a week later.<br /><br />Jade said: "I'm so proud of my babies - they're little fighters."
