Chris and Kaylee Benning Twins

As many of you know, my husband and I have some pretty amazing kids and grandkids. Our oldest, Chris, and his wife, Kaylee, have three great boys ages 3-6. They received the added surprise of finding out that they were expecting twin girls. They had no idea what hills and valleys this rollercoaster ride was about to take them on. Lots of ups and downs throughout the pregnancy as one of the twins was not growing properly and was half the size of her sister. The girls were born at 32 weeks through an emergency C-section. Elizabeth suffered from a collapsed lung, and Amelia suffered from a digestive issue causing her not to pass a bowel movements and have quite the distended tummy. Both girls were on oxygen along with feeding tubes, monitors, and PIC lines. It wasn’t long before Amelia was able to breathe without the aid of the oxygen. Elizabeth took a little longer, but her lung did re-inflate on its own, and she too is now oxygen-free.

UPDATE FROM CHRIS AND KAYLEE

“We wanted to take a moment to update everyone on how our twin girls, Amelia Renae and Elizabeth Kay, are doing.

Both girls are off of RAM CPAP now and breathing room air on their own, which is a huge step forward and something we’re incredibly thankful for. They’re staying strong and slowly making progress each day.

We also want to share something personal that’s been incredibly hard for us to process. After some testing, both Amelia and Elizabeth have been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). This has been some of the hardest news we’ve ever had to face as parents.

CF is a genetic condition that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. It causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the body, leading to breathing problems and issues with digesting nutrients. Right now, the girls are already showing some digestive struggles, which is common for babies with CF, and the NICU team is helping us work through that.

There’s no cure for CF yet, but treatments have come a long way. With the right care and medications, people with CF are living longer and fuller lives than ever before. Our girls will need ongoing support, but they are already showing us how strong and resilient they are.

We’re taking it one day at a time, leaning on each other, and leaning on all of you — our incredible family and friends. Your prayers, love, and messages have meant everything to us. Please continue to keep Amelia and Elizabeth in your thoughts as we navigate this journey.”

This sweet family could use some support both in prayer and financially. Lots of travel expenses now and in the future, lots of meals on the road, lots of meds, and rising medical bills.

Thank you and please share