“A Heartrending Image: Newborn Baby Clasping its Dying Twin.”
Touching Moment of Twin Brothers Before Their Last Moments
Sibling relationships are truly miraculous. Often, the love between siblings grows simply from being around each other. This was the case for twins Hawk and Mason.
Hawk and Mason were born in late August 2016 at a hospital in St. Petersburg, Lucie, Florida, USA. While Mason was healthy and in the arms of their parents, Hawk unfortunately suffered from a congenital diaphragmatic hernia and required special care. In an endearing moment, their parents captured a photo of Mason hugging Hawk, smiling and shared it on social media. The message of love from the two boys gained special attention and quickly spread.
Hawk, who had undergone numerous surgeries since birth, was receiving treatment at Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville, as reported by Fox News.
During their time of fighting diseases, Hawk’s parents created a Facebook account called “Two Twin Boys” to update everyone on their situation and request prayers for their son’s recovery. With each passing day, Hawk’s condition fluctuated.
The Guettler family believed that with the prayers of everyone and the support of Mason’s strength, Hawk could conquer fate. Their Facebook updates revealed their suspense and hope, but they also knew that a great fear resided within them. If parents always fear for their sick children, the Guettler couple’s fear was even greater. They feared the possibility of a time when their son could not overcome his condition and would leave them forever.
The photo of Hawk being embraced by his brother Mason was taken 11 days after their birth. It was the first time the two brothers had touched since leaving the womb.
Brandy, Hawk and Mason’s mother, mentioned that although Hawk was undergoing treatment for a rare birth defect, it was actually Mason who needed comfort from his brother. She said, “He was actually getting really fussy. And the nurse said, ‘Why don’t you try laying him down next to Hawk?’ I said, ‘Can you do that?’ So we laid him there, and all of a sudden, as soon as he felt Hawk, he reached his arm out and grabbed him and just started to smile. The two of them knew they were there for each other.”
The family now hopes that the picture will raise awareness about the fatal condition that claimed their baby’s life. Since being shared on Facebook, the photo has been shared over 6 million times.
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