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Surrey B.C. Couple Wins Parenting Lottery With Birth of Identical Triplets

Posted on: Friday, 7 March 2008, 12:00 CST

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. - A Surrey, B.C., couple has shattered the odds with the birth of naturally conceived, identical triplets on February 29.

The chance of having identical triplets is estimated at one in 200 million.

Thea and Phil Willson became the proud parents of Daniella, Alexis and Gemma on leap year day, 10 weeks before the babies' expected due date.

"We were totally shocked," says Thea Willson of the discovery she would be the mother of three. "Now we're just really happy we have all three of them and they are all healthy. What else can you say, we're really thankful."

Adds new dad Phil Willson: "Things are going good. I was just worried about their health and that's all good now, so that's what mattered."

Thea Willson was able to hold her daughters for the first time on Wednesday. The babies weigh between two and 3.3 pounds, and are expected to remain in hospital at least until their original due date, in early June.

Selena Mohammad, a spokesman for neo-natal services at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, B.C., where the babies were delivered, says even veteran staff members are awe-struck.

"The rarity, it's amazing, it's huge. Especially babies of this size, born at 1.5 kilos (3.3 pounds), only 10 per cent are conceived naturally. In other cases, 90 per cent are (born after the use of) fertility drugs. This is an extremely rare occasion."

Thea Willson took it in stride as she joked about her new family.

"We've always wanted to have more than one. So we had them all at once."

Source: Canadian Press

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