In a stunning revelation that captured the world’s attention, Annegret Raunigk, a mother-of-13 from Berlin, Germany, announced that she had undergone fertility treatment in Ukraine and was expecting quadruplets. This news left the nation—and the world—torn between admiration for her remarkable stamina and bewilderment at the prospect of raising four more children.
One year on, the four babies, born on May 19, 2015, each weighing little more than a 2lb bag of sugar, have defied the odds and are now thriving with a normal weight for their age of around 18lbs each.
Doctors initially expressed grave concerns about the premature babies’ survival, with tiny baby girl Neeta weighing just 1lb 7oz at birth. Her three brothers, Bence, Fjonn, and Dries, were also alarmingly small, requiring intensive care in incubators for the first week of their lives. Experts warned of potential lifelong health issues, including lung, intestinal, eye, and brain complications.
However, Professor Christoph Buhrer has since confirmed that all four infants have developed well, having grown significantly in a short time. Despite being born via Caesarean section, they are now as strong and healthy as if they had been born naturally.
Recently, Neeta, Bence, Fjonn, and Dries, weighing between 5lb 11oz and 6lb 3oz, were deemed fit enough to leave the hospital soon. Although they spent months in delicate health, connected to breathing tubes in incubators, they have made remarkable progress.
While Dries required surgery four weeks ago to address fluid on his brain, he has since recovered well through a procedure diverting excess cerebral fluid to his abdomen. Neeta also underwent surgery shortly after birth to repair a hole in her bowel, further highlighting the challenges they faced.
Awaiting their return home is Annegret’s 10-year-old daughter Leila, who had convinced her mother to seek fertility treatment in Ukraine, longing for a sibling to play with. Annegret’s journey to parenthood took her to Kiev, as German doctors had refused her IVF treatment due to concerns about her body’s ability to withstand the stress of pregnancy and childbirth.
In Ukraine, doctors agreed to use donated eggs and sperm for artificial insemination—a process illegal in Germany. Annegret was shocked when an ultrasound revealed she was carrying quadruplets, but she remains determined to care for her expanding family.
As Annegret prepares to move from Berlin to a country home 300 miles west of the city to raise her new brood, her journey serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the boundless capacity for love and sacrifice. Amidst the challenges and uncertainties, her unwavering determination to embrace motherhood once again shines brightly, inspiring awe and admiration worldwide.
