Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Canadian twins celebrate with world record on their first birthday

Share

After being given a zero per cent chance of survival at birth, Canadian premature twins Adiah Laelynn and Adrial Luka Nadarajah continued to defy the odds on their first birthday as they were recognized with a Guinness World Record.

The girl and boy were born on March 4, 2022 in Ontario, at a gestational age of 22 weeks. Born 126 days early, they broke the previous record for the earliest birth for a pair of twins, which was 125 days. Additionally, they were the lightest twins at birth since Adiah weighed in at 330 grams while Adrial weighed 420 grams.

“When I went into labour, the babies were denied all life-sustaining measures at the hospital I was admitted to and almost left to die,†their mother, Shakina Rajendram, told the

The following day, Rajendram was transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, where she was brought to a specialist neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). However, GWR says the hospital warned her of the twins’ low survival chances if they were born before 22 weeks. At the time, she was 21 weeks and six days into her pregnancy.

The following day, just 15 minutes after midnight, Rajendram's water broke and soon after the twins came at exactly 22 weeks. While their birth ended in success, the twins weren't completely out of danger yet. They spent nearly six months in hospital where they experienced many complications including brain bleeding, infections that led to sepsis, and they both had extremely fragile and thin skin.

Finally, after 161 days in the NICU, Adiah was cleared to leave the hospital, followed by her brother a week later. Adrial has since been re-admitted  to the hospital twice with infections and respiratory issues, but Rajendram told GWR he's now doing better and has outgrown his sister.

Slowly, the babies have been making great strides and while they still get frequent checkups from several medical specialists, Rajendram says their personalities are shining through.

“She’s (Adiah) an extremely happy and social baby, and smiles all day long,†Rajendram told GWR. “She is very chatty and has ‘conversations’ with us and her toys for hours.†Adrial, who is more on the reserved side, is extremely observant and intelligent, Rajendram said.  

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

A man who "systematically isolated, manipulated, deceived, abused, and exploited" an elderly North Vancouver woman has lost his ownership stake in her home.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he wants to build a tunnel under Highway 401 that would stretch from Brampton to Scarborough.

Local Spotlight

An Indigenous artist has a buyer-beware warning ahead of Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Police are looking to the public for help after thieves broke into a Lethbridge ice creamery, stealing from the store.

An ordinary day on the job delivering mail in East Elmwood quickly turned dramatic for Canada Post letter carrier Jared Plourde. A woman on his route was calling out in distress.

Fire has destroyed a barn and 17,000 plants at a family-owned business in Lower Coverdale, N.B.

Before influencers on social media, Canada’s Jeanne Beker was bringing the world of high fashion down to earth and as Calgary’s Glenbow Museum gets a major make-over, it will include a new exhibition showcasing the pop culture icon.

A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.

A Nova Scotian YouTuber has launched a mini-truck bookmobile.

Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.