Mom Reunites With Quadruplets After Crazy Weather Keeps Them Apart For A Week
In February 2021, hundreds of thousands of residents in Texas were affected by the brutal winter storms that froze over the normally warm state. Among these residents were Austin-based couple Bill and Starlyn Cafferata.
The couple thought that they would be able to weather the storm, but it turned out to be more than they (and everyone else) expected.
No One Was Prepared For The Texas Storm
While they live in Austin now, Bill and Starlyn both grew up in New Jersey, so when they heard a storm was heading for Texas, they weren't worried.
The couple was confident that the storm wouldn't hold up their lives in any way—and they never expected it to prevent them from seeing their children.
Starlyn Had Just Given Birth A Few Weeks Before
On January 18, 2021, Starlyn gave birth to not one, not two, but four babies at the St. David's Austin Medical Center.
Daughters Lennon, Francesca, Stella, and son Enzo were born at 31 weeks. Starlyn also works as a pediatric emergency room nurse at that hospital, so the couple was pretty familiar with the facility.
Rare Babies And Rare Weather Patterns
Having quadruplets is a rare occurrence in itself, and then you throw in one of the craziest weather events the Lone Star state has seen in decades?
The Cafferatas never imagined that this would happen.
The Roads Made It Impossible To See Their Babies
The couple lives approximately 40 miles from the hospital, a drive that wasn't possible to make with all the snow and ice covering the roads.
For days, the couple waited anxiously for the roads to clear enough for them to see their babies.
The Staff At The NICU Helped Them Stay In Contact
Even though they weren't able to see their babies in person, that doesn't mean they were completed separated.
Starlyn said that the staff in the NICU were extremely caring, making sure to FaceTime the couple every day so they could see the babies, as well as to read to the quads and cuddle them when their parents couldn't.
The Moment Finally Came To Travel Back To The Hospital
After eight days of separation, Bill and Starlyn were finally able to make the trek to the hospital once the roads had cleared!
Starlyn said it was one of the most difficult experiences she's had in a long time, but once she was reunited with the quadruplets, she felt overwhelming joy.
They Documented Their Reunion On TikTok
Bill and Starlyn were already well known on TikTok as well as other social media, having been open about their struggles with infertility before conceiving the four babies.
Since their followers had been with them since Starlyn got pregnant, they had to document their reunion with the quadruplets on TikTok.
Everyone Is Happy And Healthy
As of March 14, Lennon, Stella, and Frankie have all been released from the NICU and are at home along with the couple's 2-year-old daughter Zoe.
The family is expected to welcome the final quad, Enzo, home soon as well!