Brave twins nominated for Best of Hartlepool award

The three-year-old twins, from Irvine Road, were born 17 weeks early and weighing less than 2lb each in June 2012, making them the most premature sets of twins in the country to survive.

The pair clung to life despite both having holes in their tiny hearts, and both underwent gruelling open heart surgery.

Both have made an amazing recovery, but Archie has been left with cerebral palsy.

Mum Hayley Kennedy, 23, who has been campaigning to raise £50,000 for a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) in America to help Archie walk, said she was delighted with their nomination.

She said: “I am over the moon, as it’s quite an achievement.”

Harley has already been recognised for his achievements after he received a bravery certificate from North East Ambulance Service for alerting his family when his mum Hayley was having an eplieptic seizure at their home in Irvine Road, on November 29 last year.

Harley grabbed his mum’s mobile phone and video-called his great-grandmother, where he was able to show her what was happening in real time. Hayley said she was very proud of her boys and said they are managing well.
She said: “The boys will be pleased with this award nomination, although Harley will understand a bit more as he received the award from the paramedic after I had my seizure.

“The boys are managing ok, Harley is fine and Archie does his physio twice a week. 
“I think from being the smallest babies in the country people will always be interested in them.

“We are still fundraising for the operation and have so far raised £3,000 towards the £50,000.

“We will be doing charity nights and things and will be doing loads more in the summer. I will do everything I can for him.

“I just want him to walk, that is all I want.”