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Twin sisters born holding hands bring delivery room to tears

Posted at 7:11 AM, May 12, 2014
and last updated 2014-05-12 07:41:38-04

AKRON, Ohio (WEWS) - An Ohio mother delivered a set of rare twins on Mother's Day. When Sarah and Bill Thistlethwaite went to their third ultrasound, they received a double dose of surprising news.

"The ultrasound tech said, 'Oh, there's two.' And, my husband said, 'Two what? (laughs),'" Sarah Thistlethwaite said.

The couple learned they were having mono mono twins. That meant the babies shared the same amniotic sac and placenta. A rare situation that occurs one in every 10,000 births.

"I've been practicing high-risk obstetrics for about 35 years and I've seen less than 10 cases," Akron General Medical Center Dr. Justin Lavin said.

After 56 days in the hospital with what doctors considered a high risk pregnancy, the couple and their doctors experienced an unbelievable moment when the babies were born.

Sisters Jillian and Jenna came out holding hands.

Twins Holding Hands

"It was just so awesome and they were both holding hands and it was so great to hear them cry," mother Sarah Thistlethwaite said. "It was just a miracle."

The babies are doing great, doctors said. As for their father, he may need some help.

"What was going through my mind, I don't know. I couldn't think," father Bill Thistlethwaite said. "I started tearing up immediately. It was beautiful."