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.