An American woman has remarkably beaten odds of 70 million to one after learning she is pregnant with two sets of identical twins – an incredibly rare medical phenomenon. Ashley Ness from Massachusetts discovered she was having four babies after she attended a routine check-up in February.
Despite having fertility issues, the 35-year-old fell pregnant with her boyfriend Val, 47, and upon her ultrasound scan found out about the four babies – much to the astonishment of nurses. The four new arrivals are due in October, but will be induced prematurely due to the rise of a natural birth, reports the Mirror.
Ashley, a part-time hairdresser, spoke to Good Morning American, saying: "When she first started the scan, she was looking at the screen and wrote, 'A, B,' so I stopped and looked at her and was like, 'Wait, I'm having twins? And she's like, 'Oh I don't know... I'm going to step out for a minute'."
She admitted she has struggled to conceive previously but said that expecting four children felt like a miracle. She added: "I had a very hard time conceiving my daughter and I've had miscarriages in the past, so I feel like to be able to be blessed with something so big is so amazing."
A friend has set up a GoFundMe page to assist the couple, with nearly £10,000 donated so far. The description reads: "The ultrasound technician had to recheck before confirming that she was pregnant with quadruplets. Two sets of identical twins, two boys and two girls, are unique.
"Only about 150 sets of quadruplets and higher-order multiples are born in the United States each year. Most often, they happen when a parent has been using assisted reproduction. In Ashley's case, her quadruplets are considered spontaneous. Naturally occurring.
"Ashley and her boyfriend are thrilled and overwhelmed. They already have four children between them. The expenses, even now, are adding up. They need help – lots of help.
"She lives on a part-time hairdresser's income, and he's a small engine mechanic. They will need lots of support as quadruplets require hospital trips, home care, lots of nappies, and other necessities.
"The babies are due in October; however, for the health and well-being of Ashley and her babies, they will most likely be delivered in mid-August. Ashley cannot return to work as these tiny miracles will need round-the-clock care for most of their first year. Your donations will help support these little miracles' needs." To donate to the family, visit the page here.
The odds of winning the UK national lottery are 45,057,474 million to one.
