(Oregon Right to Life) — A young married couple in Georgia told PEOPLE magazine they’re grateful for the time they had with their conjoined twin girls who passed away shortly after their birth earlier this year.
Matthew and Breana Dell, both 24 years old, told the magazine they knew for months that their girls were joined at the torso in the womb with no chance of being separated and little hope of surviving after birth. Regardless, Breana chose to carry the twins – named Amelia and Elhora – to term.
“Their lives were so meaningful,” Breana told PEOPLE. “Because of them… I think that there was a domino effect of other things that happened that are good.”
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According to the report, the girls were born conjoined and weighing just 3.5 pounds each. They lived after birth for about an hour, during which they were held and snuggled by their parents, their 16-month-old brother Dallas, and the Dells’ extended family members. Then they passed away.
“They didn’t ever cry or open their eyes, but they had a heartbeat,” Breana said in her remarks to PEOPLE. “They were beautiful. I told them they were beautiful.” The young mom added that her daughters’ passing “was peaceful.”
Matthew and Breana told the magazine they had received an outpouring of support during and after the pregnancy, something that Matthew said made them realize they didn’t “have to feel alone.” A memorial service for Amelia and Elhora was live-streamed on Facebook and drew 6,000 supporters. People who had been following the Dells’ story also gave generously to help cover the family’s medical bills.
Matthew described losing the girls as “extremely hard” but expressed gratitude for the precious moments he and his wife had with their daughters. “I was glad for the time that I was able to hold them. They were sweet. They’re very beautiful, beautiful little babies,” he said, according to the article.
“They’re at peace. I’m at peace,” Breana told PEOPLE. “In the small amount of time that we had with them, they really changed our lives.”
The PEOPLE article did not indicate whether or not the Dells had been encouraged by medical providers to consider abortion for their twin girls, but many couples are actively urged to consider terminating difficult pregnancies. Families who refuse the advice and choose life for their unborn babies often report feeling grateful and at peace even if their infants do pass shortly after birth.
Emily Anderson, co-founder of Oregon’s pro-life “Glorify Project,” told Oregon Right to Life earlier this year that she and her husband had been urged to get an abortion after their 20-week ultrasound, when they learned their baby had no amniotic fluid, kidneys, or lung function. Emily and her husband rejected abortion as an option, and Emily gave birth to their son at 33 weeks gestation.
The newborn lived for only about an hour outside the womb before quietly passing away. Though the experience was heartbreaking, Emily has no regrets about refusing to preemptively end her son’s life.
“We just want couples to know that you can walk that pregnancy out,” Emily said. “And there’s dignity, and there’s compassion.”
