Miracle IVF quadruplets celebrate their first Xmas at home with doting parents who ‘hit the jackpot’ using last round of fertility treatment

A FAMILY has celebrated the Christmas they thought they would never have – at home with their four miracle babies.

The IVF quadruplets’ story of survival against all odds is told for the first time today, a year after their parents were warned to prepare for the worst after numerous complications.

Things looked so bleak during the pregnancy that at one point doctors had to use a laser to sever the blood vessels of one of the babies to save the other three.

The heaviest of the quads — twin boys Gionni and Peppe, and twin girls Melina and Mia — weighed just 2lb 4oz when they were born three MONTHS early.

Dad Giovanni Sapia, 50, said: “Last Christmas was awful. We spent it looking at the babies in incubators and couldn’t take family pictures.

“This year was completely different. It’s been wonderful having all the family together.”

Giovanni, a produce manager, met Anna Savchenko, 33, in 2010.

After a six-month romance, they moved in together to start a family.

Following a year of trying for a baby, fertility tests found it was unlikely they would ever conceive naturally.

The couple were referred to fertility specialists at St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping, Essex, and in September 2014 started the first of the three rounds of free IVF treatment they were entitled to on the NHS.

After the “complete heartbreak” of finding out the first two courses had failed, it came down to the final one in June last year.

Anna, a former nanny, recalled: “We would never have been able to afford private treatment so we were both praying for a miracle.

“When we saw the cross on the positive pregnancy test, Giovanni and I held each other and jumped up and down with excitement.”

Four weeks later, Giovanni and Anna’s doctor told them they were expecting quadruplets, as the eggs taken from Anna had split into two.

She said: “We couldn’t believe the news. We had hit the jackpot, well, the rollover jackpot, as we were going to have four kids.

“We went home to let it sink in but were warned there may be complications because there were so many babies.

“I was on tenterhooks knowing that troubles may be ahead. The doctors explained they would be premature and may struggle to develop in the womb.”

At 16 weeks, on October 20, 2016, specialists at King’s College Hospital in London told the couple that one set of twins had selective growth restriction and may not make it.

Anna, from Epping, Essex, said: “It was the news that would tear our world apart.

“Mia was not growing properly and if she died in the womb I’d miscarry the entire pregnancy.

“These were the words no expectant mother wants to hear.

“We were told that day that I would need laser surgery immediately to cut the vessels between Mia and her sister in order to save the other babies. I was devastated and terrified – but I was prepared.”

After the 40-minute operation, Mia’s heart unexpectedly carried on beating.

Every week Anna returned to hospital to be monitored and each time she was told Mia was days away from death.

Anna recalled: “I could feel her wriggling. She was a little fighter.”

But as Mia battled, the boys began to struggle.

Doctors said Anna was too far along for more surgery, so at 25 weeks they admitted her to King’s before transferring her to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambs.

On December 15, at 27 weeks and three days, Anna’s waters broke and she had an emergency caesarean section.

She recalled: “Baby Mia was given less than a one per cent chance of surviving labour but she still had a small heartbeat and was clinging on.” At 7.36, 7.37, 7.38 and 7.40 on December 16, 2016, the quads were delivered.

Anna said: “Melina came out first weighing 2lb, then Gionni at 2lb 4oz, and Peppe 2lb 1oz, followed by miracle baby Mia, weighing a tiny 13oz — less than a bag of sugar.”

The problems did not end there, as the life of baby Mia continued to hang in the balance.

Anna said: “Air and fluids began filling up in her tummy and squashing her lungs, so she was put on a special high frequency ventilator.

“I call her my jellyfish as that’s what she looked like, it was so awful.

“We were told the surgeons could try to pierce her tummy to see if the air would come out and make her breathing better, but she filled up again.

They expanded the hole and, as she became a little more stable, told us they would do surgery to see what was causing the problem.

“Despite being the size of my palm, she had two surgeries in 24 hours but, ultimately, we were told nothing more could be done.”

After discussing their seemingly futile situation with the consultant, it was decided that surgeons would not operate again.

Anna and Giovanni did not want to cause their baby any more pain and decided to let nature run its course.

Anna said: “Then a miracle happened and she turned a corner. The surgeons had never seen a case like it.

“We took every moment as a gift. First it was seconds, then hours, then days of Mia being stable. It was a horrendous situation but also amazing at the same time.”

Now the babies are home and developing into a cheeky foursome. Mia has to have frequent checks to monitor her progress as it is still unsure how she will be impacted later in life, but they are doing well considering their emotional arrival.

Anna said: “Melina likes to get all the attention and the boys are quite competitive.

“They are all quite gentle with Mia, it’s very cute to watch. Despite her being physically less developed, Mia was the first one to say ‘mama’ — it was very emotional.”

Anna shares the babies’ progress by posting pictures of them every day on her Instagram page — @quadsagainsttheodds — to their 5,500 followers. She said: “I can’t believe how many people are interested.

“I set up the account to update my family but now we are sharing daily updates to thousands of people.

“Having these four little miracles means four times the love.

“Being told you’re having quadruplets might be daunting to some mums, but to me it was the greatest news I’d ever heard.

“Now it’s a whirlwind. There is always so much to do but I wouldn’t change any of them for the world.”

Giovanni added: “Every day was a challenge last Christmas. We didn’t know if Mia would make it.

“I still can’t believe I’m a dad. I’m older than the usual first dad but that doesn’t hold me back. I love my children so much.”