Like any other parents, Stanley and Kayla Cottrell were elated when they found out they were expecting a baby. Even more so when they found out they were having twins. Although it was an emotionally and physically difficult pregnancy, the twins, Hayes Valton Cottrell and Maeleigh Ann Cottrell have been a bundle of blessings.
Stanley and Kayla Cottrell, both age 37, were married on April 4, 2014, in Waldron, Arkansas. Nine months later, in January 2015, the couple found out they were expecting a baby. “In February 2015, at our 8-week visit, we were told we were expecting twins,” shared Kayla Cottrell. “We both were extremely shocked and happy. We were told that more than likely we couldn’t get pregnant due to my history of PCOS, and endometriosis without infertility medications. No infertility meds were used.”
Kayla Cottrell’s family was no stranger to twins. Her paternal grandfather was a fraternal twin, and her second cousin has identical twin girls.
At 20 weeks into the pregnancy, Kayla began having health problems. She was placed on bed rest due to placenta previa, low lying placenta. Her obstetrician, Dr. JeanMarie Householder, felt that due to her work as a nurse, it was best she be on bed rest. “Dr. Householder with Sparks Hospital is one of the many reasons we are where we are today,” Cottrell added.
At 31 weeks, Cottrell’s water broke, and on August 2, 2015, at 12:24 p.m. Hayes and Maeleigh were born. In a single minute, the lives of Stanley and Kayla changed forever. Born via an emergency C-section, the premature babies would require lengthy specialty care at Mercy Fort Smith NICU. Hayes was on a ventilator for seven days and stayed in the NICU for four weeks. Maeleigh had to be on oxygen and was in the NICU for six weeks. She was admitted back into the newborn infant intensive care after being diagnosed with sepsis. “We are so thankful for an amazing pediatrician who caught it quickly and saved our sweet girl’s life,” Cottrell added. “A difficult time for sure, lots of prayers were sent up for our babies…and we will forever be thankful. There is no doubt in our minds God is the reason our babies are here today. Two living miracles”
Cottrell recalled the moment they were able to hold their babies for the first time. “Stanley got to hold Maeleigh first at Mercy. I wasn’t able to hold her due to the increased stimuli, and we couldn’t hold Hayes till he was off the vent.”
Both babies needed special formula with extra calories to help them gain weight. Neither were exposed to the public until they were almost a year old due to RSV and flu season. “I feel I was a little overprotective of them, and maybe still am today,” Cottrell admitted.
The twins, who will turn six on August 2, spent a few years getting on the growth charts and developmentally were behind the normal full-term child learning to crawl, walk, and talk. You wouldn’t know that today, however. Both are caught up and have experienced growth by leaps and bounds. “Hayes suffers some asthma, but nothing as severe as it could have been. He loves helping his daddy on the farm, and anything to do with cows. Maeleigh is a sassy blonde-haired blue-eyed girl…both honestly haven’t stopped talking since they learned how!”
The proud mom credits her husband for his strength and support throughout the difficult journey, adding, “as a family, we are forever grateful to Ronald McDonald House for being our home away from home during the time we were there. We are also extremely thankful for Dr. Wilkinson for all he has done to get our kids where they are today and for listening to all our concerns. Most importantly, we are thankful for the many prayers everyone said for us.”
Hayes and Maeleigh will start kindergarten this fall at Waldron Elementary. The twins are involved in the Scott County 4-H and Maeleigh enjoys gymnastics. The family is actively involved with Waldron First Church of the Nazarene.
This family of four has held tight to their faith, and the twins are a reminder of God’s amazing grace!
