Nor'West News: January 15, 2019

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16 Tuesday January 15 2019 News Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi NOR’WEST NEWS Local News Now Fire rages, homes at risk Twins keep parents on their toes Two years ago Redwood’s Radhika Naidu gave birth to identical twin boys, Manu and Dominic Wells. Emily O’Connell catches up with the family “CHEERFUL, PLAYFUL and extremely naughty.” That’s how Radhika Naidu describes her twin boys who were born nine weeks premature on January 1, 2017. Their early arrival meant the twins spent the first 57 days of their life in a neonatal intensive care unit in Christchurch Women’s Hospital. It also meant the pair were known as twin one and two for six weeks, while Ms Naidu and husband Victor Wells decided on names which included both their cultures. Although the two-year-olds are identical, Ms Naidu says they look “so different” and their personalities are not “alike at all.” She said Manu, who is the bigger twin, was the first to walk and develop skills and Dominic is more cheerful and observant and “takes on adverse situations more readily.” Along with the twins, Ms Naidu and Mr Wells are kept busy with two other children, Mia, 7, and Ariki who is threeand-half-years old. “I just don’t remember having to monitor them [Mia and Ariki] all the time like this. These guys [the twins] egg each other on,” she said. Ms Naidu says the biggest difference between the twins and her older two children is their comprised immunity caused by a premature birth. “Especially Dominic, so when he was born . . . they realised his umbilical cord was straggly and unhealthy looking and it had knots in it. So it had been FAMILY: Radhika Naidu and husband Victor Wells with their New Year’s Day two-year-old twins Dominic (left front) and Manu and older children, Ariki, 3, and Mia, 7. PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER comprising his blood flow from the beginning,” she said. Dominic has an eye condition called nystagmus, which Ms Naidu has been told is common with premature babies, and he has immature lung development meaning he gets sick easily. “They both have asthma and eczema and they use preventers. They seem to be a little better now. We’re hoping they keep improving,” she said. January 2017 was a busy month for Ms Naidu and Mr Wells, with the birth of their twins which “forever redefined” New Year’s Day for them, moving to Redwood from St Albans and their first child, Mia, starting primary school. Ms Naidu said her husband was the “rock” during this time. Manu and Dominic aren’t the only ones in the family born on a significant day, their grandmother Protima Naidu was born on Christmas Day. Ms Naidu says discovering Mulitples Canterbury, which supports people with twins, triplets or more, has been “encouraging” and has helped her feel less isolated. She said the organisation provides new parents with information such as dietary requirements for premature babies, the best strollers to use and it helps connect parents to relevant groups. •To find out more about Multiples Canterbury visit http://www.cmbc.co.nz/ index#.XDLAN9IzbIU or Multiples New Zealand at https://www.multiples.org. nz/ Exhibitors Book now Don’t miss your opportunity to showcase your business in front of 10,000+ qualified attendees Jon.Holmes@starmedia.kiwi or 021 225 8225
NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Tuesday January 15 2019 17 HUGE SALE NOW ON! BIGGER THAN DONALD TRUMP’S EGO THE JAZZ OUTDOOR SUITE THE OLIVIA 2.5 SEATER AVAILABLE IN A RANGE OF FABRICS TV UNIT THE FLOW COLLECTION COFFEE TABLE A MASSIVE 20-60 % OFF STOREWIDE DINING BUFFET SIMPLYFURNITURE.CO.NZ 484 Cranford Street, Christchurch - 03 354 5026 | 12 Hawthorne Drive, Queenstown - 03 442 3435
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Nor'West News: January 15, 2019

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