A couple were forced to choose between their newborn twin sons after they both became critically ill just a few days after they were born prematurely at 32 weeks.
Rob and Becky Green faced a heartbreaking decision following the early birth of their tiny sons Bobby and Jesse by emergency caesarean section at Calderdale Royal Hospital on August 25.
Bobby weighed 4lb 2 oz and Jesse just 4lbs and the pair seemed healthy during the crucial first few days.
But four days after their arrival, the pair started to deteriorate and needed to be transferred to more specialist neonatal hospitals.
Unable to find spaces in the same hospital for both babies, their devastated parents were faced with the agonising decision to choose which baby to turn their attentions to.
Rob Green told Examiner Live : "They were both struggling with their blood oxygen levels and they were almost taking it in turns to go downhill. We didn't really know what was going on and just watched as the neonatal staff did their amazing work.
'Human dustbin' Craig sheds half his body weight in incredible transformation
"Then, Jesse's right arm started to change colour and was cold because he wasn't getting enough blood to it. They both needed to be transferred but they were struggling to find them both neonatal beds in the same hospital.
"In the end, Jesse had to become the higher priority so they took him to Leeds where they had a bed and Bobby stayed at Halifax because he wasn't doing too badly. "
The couple went to Leeds General Infirmary with Jesse and remained with him until he became stable.
They were then told to go home to Lindley for some rest but at 4am, they received a call from Halifax to say Bobby had deteriorated and needed transferring to Bradford Royal Informary.
The devastated dad said: "We drove straight to Halifax because they said Bobby had taken a turn for the worse.
"Whilst we were there, we then got another call to say we had to get to Leeds immediately for Jesse.
Pregnant Mrs Hinch shares update as she leaves hospital after terrifying health scare
"We knew what was going to happen because we were aware of how serious the situation was. By the time we got to Leeds, they'd had to resuscitate him a few times so it wasn't looking good. He passed away with us there - the sepsis had become so overwhelming.
"Then, still grief stricken, we had to leave Jesse after just a few hours because we got another call to say we had to get to Bradford for Bobby. We didn't know what we were going to face when we got there because it was still touch and go.
"Luckily Becky's parents had gone ahead so could be with him before we arrived.
"It was a nightmare and I don't even think we've processed it to this day. It was a nightmare."
The grieving couple, who also have three-year-old daughter Matilda, stayed with their son Bobby at Bradford for around three weeks before he was transferred back to Calderdale and eventually allowed home.
"He is a smiling, laughing eight-month-old now," said Rob. "He's a bit small for his age but he's great.
"We feel so happy and relieved to have him, we're so blessed. But at the same time, we feel guilty because there should have been two of them."
Now, Rob and Becky want to raise money to help other families in similar situations.
They have set up a JustGiving page called Jesse's Fund in their son's memory to raise money for Embrace - a highly specialised transport service for Yorkshire critically-ill babies and children to other hospitals in the region or further afield - and Calderdale Royal Hospital's neonatal unit.
More than £2,000 has already been raised as Rob prepares to run his first marathon in the Lake District later this month.
He will also be joining 12 other team mates at his local football team Holme Valley Academicals to complete the 3 Peaks in 24 hours at the end of May.
Rob said: "We are so lucky. We just want to give something back and raise awareness of what these amazing people and places do."
If you would like to donate to Jesse's Fund, click here.
