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Premature twins reunited
at last

by Mary Graham

Premature twins who were being treated in hospitals 50 miles
apart have been reunited.

Ruby and Krystal Dawson-Collins, who were born at just 26 weeks,
are now both together at Pembury Hospital.

They were separated shortly after being born by Caesarean
section at Maidstone Hospital on January 18 because they were both
frail and needed specialist care.

Ruby weighed just 1lb 9oz and Krystal 2lb 4oz.

There was not room for both of them at Medway Maritime Hospital,
so for a while Ruby was cared for in Chertsey, Surrey, while
Krystal spent time at hospitals in Brighton and Pembury.

It left parents Martin Collins and Stephanie Dawson, of
Gladstone Road, Maidstone, with a 121-mile round trip to see their
babies.

But on Wednesday came the news that Ruby had improved and could
join her sister at Pembury. They were re-united at 8pm.

The full family came together for the first time this
morning.

An emotional Mr Collins thanked everyone who had cared for his
daughters.

He said: "This is just a real sentimental moment. We just cannot
believe its actually happening.

"I know they have had the best care medically, it was the
situation of them being so far apart which has been very hard on
all of us."

See the full story in this Friday's Kent
Messenger.