One of 53-Year-Old’s Twins Leaves Hospital

Kelly Ann Shearing, the largest of two girls born prematurely to a 53-year-old woman on Nov. 10, was released this week from the hospital.

Her sister, Amy Leigh Shearing, is still too small to be sent home, but doctors at Martin Luther Hospital expect her release to come soon, said Dennis Gaschen, a hospital spokesman.

Kelly Ann, who weighed 2 pounds, 12 ounces at birth, had grown to 4 pounds and 9 ounces when she was released from the hospital Monday, Gaschen said. The hospital had set a target weight of 4 pounds and 8 ounces for the girls to reach before they could be considered ready to go home, Gaschen said.

“While you have to take in account many things, usually 4 1/2 pounds is a good weight to send a baby home,” Gaschen said. “That’s what we were shooting for. If they put that much weight on, they have to have been taking nourishment orally, rather than intravenously.”

Amy Leigh, who was born smaller than her sister, now weighs about 3 pounds and 14 ounces, up from her 2 pounds and 2 ounces at birth, Gaschen said.

“Kelly Ann is about a month ahead of our plans for her release. Amy is right on schedule, based on her lower weight at birth,” Gaschen said.

The babies have been gaining half an ounce to an ounce each day, Gaschen said.

The twins’ mother, Mary Shearing, gave birth while she was going through menopause. On May 15 she was implanted with embryos created from sperm from her husband, Don, 32, and donated eggs.

The girls were due in early February, but doctors anticipated an early delivery because of the mother’s age, Gaschen said.

Gaschen said the mother and father “are doing great.”

“They are excited about getting back to a somewhat normal life,” he said.