Those old enough to remember the early 1980s will undoubtedly recall the sensation that was the Walton sextuplets. As the world’s first-ever surviving all-female sextuplets, these six baby girls caused quite the media frenzy in 1983.
Their story of survival, in a line of only three other sextuplet groups, catapulted them into the limelight from their earliest days. However, their parents, Janet and Graham Walton of Liverpool, England, encountered a tumultuous journey behind the media’s rosy depiction of their birth.
Janet and Graham‘s path to parenthood was a long one, filled with yearning and determination. Their unyielding desire to start a family led them to seek fertility treatments. However, they faced several unsuccessful attempts, going through twelve rounds of treatments before fortune finally favored them – and did so sixfold!
The news of Janet’s sextuplet pregnancy took the couple by surprise, making them realize they were about to have their hands fuller than they had ever imagined. They had dreamt of a family, and now they were about to have one, in multiples!
Given the complexities of carrying six lives, Janet was admitted to the hospital under constant medical observation. Her pregnancy was deemed high-risk, warranting meticulous care and vigilance.
In an awe-inspiring feat of endurance, Janet successfully carried her six little miracles until the 31st week of pregnancy. November 18, 1983, marked the arrival of the Walton sextuplets: Hannah, Ruth, Luci, Kate, Jennie, and Sarah, in that order. These little wonders of life were declared healthy soon after their birth and introduced to the world as the remarkable Walton sextuplets.
The early years of the sextuplets were a whirlwind of diapers and sleepless nights for Janet and Graham. During the first two years, the couple went through a staggering 10,000 diapers! The parents could only catch a few hours of sleep each night, making it a strenuous period in their lives.
Janet reflected on those challenging years, saying, “We lived through those early years in a blur. The only regret is that there wasn’t enough time to enjoy them as much as we’d have liked.” The couple had their hands full with six bundles of joy, always on the go, always in a flurry of activity.
Three and a half decades have passed since the birth of the Walton sextuplets, and public interest in them has rekindled. People are curious to know how the girls have fared, and they would be pleased to learn that all six are thriving, leading fulfilling lives, much to their parents’ joy and pride.
Here’s a snapshot of the girls’ achievements:
- Hannah has accomplished a series of degrees and forged a career as a schoolteacher.
- Kate has carved a niche for herself in human resources.
- Luci flies high as part of the crew for a major airline.
- Jennie sweetens people’s lives, owning a candy shop.
- Ruth, engaged and employed at a call center, is set to embark on her matrimonial journey.
- And the youngest, Sarah, works at a medical center and brought the first grandchild, Jorgie, into the family on October 7, 2014.
The Walton sextuplets’ journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Janet and Graham, their wisdom steeped in years of experience, have some sagely advice for Sarah, who finds herself grappling with the demands of her baby’s nocturnal awakenings. Their shared wisdom, born from years of collective parenting, is undoubtedly worth heeding.
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Source: AWM
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