‘They came on a special day’: Twins delivered hours after eclipse
NEWBURGH, Ind. (WFIE) - A Jasper family’s eclipse plans were eclipsed by the birth of twins Monday evening.
Chad and Haylee Hoffman welcomed twins Camdyn and Lainey just 23 minutes apart on April 8 at the Deaconess Gateway Women’s Hospital, the day most of the country was watching the total solar eclipse.
The twin’s birth came earlier than expected.
“We came in on Thursday for a routine doctor’s appointment, we didn’t anticipate being here at all,” said Haylee.
The twins were due May 10, but decided to come more than a month early. Haylee was admitted to the hospital Thursday, but it was three days before the twins would come.
“Sunday was actually my birthday, so we were in here for my birthday, and I thought I might be sharing,” Haylee said. “They came on a special day, a cool day. I’m sure they’ll live up to that.”
Chad says he was hoping to watch the eclipse on a tractor while working on his farm. Instead, he watched from the hospital parking lot. But that’s a trade he was willing to make, for the babies he and Haylee weren’t sure would ever come.
“We have been trying to conceive for about three years, so we’ve been on an in vitro journey and these kiddos were our fourth transfer,” Haylee said.
A long and emotional journey for the Hoffmans, ending on a historic day. As the skies went dark, Haylee was in labor. She says the total solar eclipse was reminiscent of her own story.
“We have had a lot of dark moments in the last three years trying to get to this place and I’m in labor and the whole sky goes black,” Haylee said. “It’s a cool representation of what we’ve been through I think.”
In the years to come, people will remember where they were on April 8th, 2024, and the Hoffmans say they’ll make sure the twins will remember it too.
“They’ll hear about it all the time,” Chad said. “I’m sure they will.”
Chad and Haylee aren’t new to being parents, but they are first timers with newborns. Their 10-year-old daughter was adopted, but the Hoffmans say she’s excited to help with raising the twins.
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