Preemie Norah Survived After Twin's Death and Is Thriving a Year Later

Sarah Wood, a California mother, told People that her daughter Norah survived as a preemie after her twin sister died in the womb and is now thriving more than a year after her discharge following a 100-day stay in the neonatal intensive care unit.

The couple from Bakersfield had conceived through in vitro fertilization when the embryo split; about 17 weeks into the pregnancy Sarah was diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome that progressed from stage 2 to stage 4. After a delayed referral and a fetal surgery in Los Angeles, both twins initially survived the procedure, but Sarah later learned Iris had died within the prior 24 hours. Sarah went into full labor at 27 weeks and, after a cesarean section on Aug. 20, 2024, Norah was born weighing 1 lb., 7 oz., received a "super high" Apgar score and spent the next 100 days at the Lauren Small Children’s Center at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, with several brady episodes before her Thanksgiving discharge.

It has now been more than a year since Norah came home and the family marked the holidays together, keeping traditions like visits with Santa, cookie baking and zoo lights. Sarah says Norah "lives up to" her middle name, Wilde — "She's happy. She's got a ton of hair. And she is wild" — and the family has created an iris garden to honor her twin; Sarah also expressed gratitude for the doctors and nurses and "the levity they brought to a really hard time."

Key Topics

Health, Sarah Wood, Norah Wood, Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, Apgar Score