Somerville Parents of ‘Miracle’ Twins Face Tough Odds

The Somerville parents of twins born nearly one month apart are in need of donations to ease the burden of caring for two newborn premature babies.

Fraternal twin boys Alexandre and Ronaldo Antunes are lucky to be alive after the premature babies were born three weeks apart. They were born Boston’s Tufts Medical Center in a medical procedure called “delayed interval deliveries” in story previously reported on Patch. But their parents don’t have enough money to provide for them.

The kids’ mother, Lindalva da Silva, hasn’t worked at her waitressing job since January. Father Ronaldo is recovering from a hamstring surgery and is unable to collect on paid time off from his job as a catering driver, all of which he used tending to the mother of his children, according to a press release.

In addition, the two boys, born at 24 and 28 weeks, are not in the medical all-clear.

"While the boys have overcome incredible odds to the point where they are on verge of going home, hopefully in the next week or two, there is still a risk of medical and developmental challenges that lie ahead,” Tufts media specialist Jeremy Lechan said in a statement.

The family is requesting donations on a website set up to help them get back on their feet and buy supplies like diapers, clothes, and other expenses to help the children get started on their very lucky lives.